Aieisha Luyken, women’s basketball and Joel Friesen, men’s basketball UFV Cascades/Abbotsford Heat Athletes of the Week
Week ending Sunday, February 5, 2012
Joel Friesen led the UFV Cascades men’s basketball team to two key victories over the UBC Thunderbirds 77–72, on Friday and 94-83, on Saturday to improve the Cascades record to 12-5 and keep the Cascades in the run for the West Division title with one week remaining. The Cascades are now ranked 5th in the CIS top ten rankings, their highest standing in the six years.
The Cascades are looking to earn their first home playoff series in their six year affiliation with Canada West. The Cascades have one game remaining against TWU, this Thursday, in Langley, BC, both UBC and Victoria have two games remaining. The Cascades two victories against UBC were the first in their six years in the CIS.
Friesen led the Cascades in scoring with a 23 point performance on Friday and 18 point performance on Saturday. Joel’s leadership on the court was evident especially when the Thunderbirds made their two runs in the second half, each night, his key baskets and control of the game helped UFV two its first two conference wins against the CIS number three ranked Thunderbirds.
Joel average 27 minutes per game, pulled down 8 total rebounds on the weekend and recorded 4 assists and 5 steals.
Position: Guard
Hometown: Abbotsford, BC
Major: Arts
Year @ UFV: 3
The UFV Cascades women’s basketball team defeated the UBC Thunderbirds, 65-57 on Friday night, and fell at the buzzer to UBC 60-58, on Saturday night, both games at the Envision Athletic Centre in front of 400 plus fans both nights. The Cascades record stands at 11-6, good for second place, as they have earned their first ever home playoff series the weekend of February 24 to 26.
The Cascades ranked 10th in the CIS top ten poll were led by Aieisha Luyken, Mission, BC with 17 points and Saturday, Luyken was top scorer with 15 points. The third year Kinesiology major recorded 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals while averaging 32 minutes in the weekend split with UBC.
Position: Guard
Hometown: Mission, BC
Major: Kinesiology
Year @V UFV: 3
