For the second time in three weeks, Sarah Wierks of the University of the Fraser Valley women’s basketball team has been named the Canada West female first star of the week.
The 6’2” fifth-year centre from Chilliwack earned the award in the wake of two dominant performances against UBC Okanagan on the weekend.
On Friday, Wierks registered 22 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks to pace the Cascades to a 70-67 win over the Heat. In the first quarter, she moved into second place on the all-time Canada West rebounding list, passing former Calgary Dinos great Janis Paskevich (912 total rebounds).
On Saturday, Wierks was even better – she racked up 22 points, 19 rebounds, a team-record seven blocks and four steals in a thoroughly dominating performance as the Cascades won 77-65. She’s now accumulated 945 rebounds in her distinguished career, trailing only ex-Saskatchewan Huskies star Sarah Crooks (1,181 rebounds) on the all-time list.
Wierks currently leads the entire CIS in rebounds per game (14.5), a mark which would tie her with Jodi Evans (Calgary Dinos, 1990-91) for the highest average over the course of a single season in Canada West history.
The weekend wins enabled the Cascades (8-6) to tighten their grip on third place in the Explorer Division. They hit the road this week for a Saturday-Sunday set in Calgary vs. the Mount Royal Cougars, and can clinch a playoff berth if they win both games.
Alana Serhan (Manitoba Bisons, hockey) and Christina Campbell (MacEwan Griffins, volleyball) were the Canada West female second and third stars of the week, respectively. The male three stars were Tommy Nixon (UBC Thunderbirds, basketball), Aspen Sterzer (Calgary Dinos, hockey) and Devin McMurtry (UNBC Timberwolves, basketball).
Wierks became the first female athlete to be named Canada West first star twice this season. On the men’s side, UBC’s Nixon is the only one to accomplish the feat.
For more information, contact Dan Kinvig at dan.kinvig@ufv.ca
01/31/2015