The VIU Mariners women's basketball are nationals-bound after winning the PACWEST Championships on Saturday, March 1. (Chris Raeside)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

gold and silver

VIU Mariner women earn provincial basketball title, men fall just short

Mar 2, 2025 | 6:07 AM

NANAIMO — One VIU basketball team is nationals-bound, while another fell heartbreakingly short.

The Mariner women clinched another provincial championship in the first of two gold medal games on Saturday, March 1, beating the Columbia Bible College 69-59.

In addition to a spot at CCAA Nationals on the line, the game was the first time the two teams had met since the Mariners boycotted games at CBC earlier this year, after alleged mistreatment and attacks on Mariners star Harriette Mackenzie.

Mackenzie let her play do the talking, scoring a game-high 21 points and picking up 10 rebounds to pace the Mariners offence.

Makayle Kimbe contributed 13 points, while Mackenzie Cox had 12 and was named player of the game.

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All three were named tournament all-stars, with Mackenzie earning the most valuable player award.

Defensively, VIU were strong and targeted PACWEST Player of the Year Elissa Vreugdenhil who was only able to muster seven points on 11 attempts.

The 2025 CCAA Women’s Basketball National Championships are being hosted by the St. Thomas Tommies in Fredericton, New Brunswick, with teams due to arrive March 10 and games beginning two days later.

VIU were unable to make it a sweep at provincials, which were hosted by Capilano University.

The team fell 75-70 to the hosts in the gold medal game.

A close game throughout with VIU frustrated by a solid Capilano defence, the teams were separated by a single point after the first quarter 22-21.

VIU pulled narrowly ahead in the second quarter, outscoring the Blues 18-14 to lead by three at the half, but Capilano eliminated the game in the third quarter to leave teams tied heading into the final change.

In the final quarter, the Mariners struggled to get shooting going until late, with a series of three pointers closing the score but Capilano held on to win.

Kai Leighton was named VIU’s player of the game.

It’s Capilano’s fourth provincial title and comes after a season where the Blues posted a 13-11 record, compared to VIU’s 21-3.

Vanier College in Quebec will host the CCAA Men’s Basketball National Championships, also beginning March. 12.

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