ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – The Spartans women's basketball team were rewarded a strong game from Nicole Fransson (Edmonton), but were ultimately overcome by their cross-town rival Fraser Valley falling 77-60 Saturday at Envision Financial Athletic Centre.
 
Fransson was determined to avenge the Spartans 72-61 home defeat last Thursday, picking up 20 points and 17 rebounds in the TWU (3-11) loss. Jolene Vlieg (Leduc, Alta.) added 14 points, while Kianna Wiens (Regina, Sask.) added 11 alongside a team-high five assists.
 
Fraser Valley forward Taylor Claggett added 26 points, 16 rebounds and four assists for the Cascades, while Deanna Tuchscherer and Amanda Thompson scored seven apiece.
 
Claggett was on fire from the opening tip. UFV's all-time leading scorer racked up 18 points in the first half as the host -built leads of 23-10 and 43-24 at the first and second quarter breaks.
 
The Spartans hung tough, though. After outscoring UFV 20-15 in the third quarter, they surged early in the fourth, getting the deficit back to single digits (64-56) after a triple from Wiens and a jumper from Fransson in quick succession.
 
The Cascades righted themselves, though, and Victoria Jacobse and Nikki Cabuco combined to insert the dagger. After Jacobse slashed to the rim for a layup, Cabuco snuck in and stole the ensuing inbounds pass, laying it back in to make it 76-60 with less than two minutes left in regulation.
 
QUOTABLE
Cheryl Jean-Paul – TWU Head Coach
 
"I'm really proud of the character the team showed in the second half. It wasn't the start we were hoping to see on either end of the floor, but the grit and determination demonstrated took us a few steps forward even if the stat line doesn't show it. 
 
There are some aspects of the game that will only develop with more time and  experience, but we gave ourselves a glimpse of the level we need to play at to be competitive in this league. Our challenge is to bring more and more of it every day in training and in every game we have left this season. Great things are going to come from these valuable experiences, playing in a tough gym against a tough team, and I look forward to what we see next."
 
NOTABLE

• TWU second-year forward Nicole Fransson (Edmonton) came into the weekend leading TWU averaging 16.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per-game.
• The Spartans came into the weekend having won its previous five meetings against Fraser Valley coming into the weekend, dating back to Nov. 12, 2016.
• It was Fransson's fifth double-double this season, with her previous coming in last Thursday's loss. (13 points, 11 rebounds).

 
NEXT UP
TWU returns home to take on Alberta next weekend (Jan. 24-25) at the Langley Events Centre. 

About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 11 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) in men's hockey and as an independent team in men's rugby. The men's and women's hockey programs will begin playing in Canada West and U SPORTS in 2020-21. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 27 Canada West team championships and two BCIHL championships.
 
-TW-