Two Victories in Coyote Country
Mariners improve to 12-0 on the season
KELOWNA - The longest road trip of the season did nothing to slow the Mariners down.
VIU women's basketball remains undefeated (12-0) on the PACWEWST season after two wins over the Okanagan Coyotes in Kelowna's Quigley Elementary School gym: 97-69 on Friday and 80-75 on Saturday.
As the scores indicate, however, the games were quite different in how they played out.
VIU 97 - OKANAGAN COLLEGE 69
On Friday, the Mariners continued a season-long trend of hot first quarter starts. Coming into the game, the Mariners had outscored their opposition 212-96 in first quarters, and followed that up with a 29-11 lead over the Coyotes after ten minutes. VIU shot 80% (12 of 15) in the first, including a perfect 3 for 3 from beyond the three point line and two-for-two from the free throw line.
A 50-36 VIU lead in the half was buoyed by a 30-19 advantage in the third quarter, and the Mariners cruised through the final frame to victory. The Mariners shot a sizzling 66.3% (38-60, including 12-18 on three pointers) on the way to their biggest offensive showing of the season.
Ranika Guyton continued her impressive start for the Mariners. The Californian guard, who joined the Mariners in the second semester, led the team with 27 points and shot 11-of-15 from the floor. Chloe Scaber added 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Six Mariners scored in double-figures while Kiara Johnston led the team with 9 rebounds.
Paloma Niz Velazquez scored 17 points in the game to lead the Coyotes in scoring.
VIU 80 - OKANAGAN COLLEGE 75
Saturday's game followed a much different path. Instead of a quick start, the Mariners had to rally late.
The Coyotes led 17-16 after the first quarter--the first time the Mariners trailed at the end of the first quarter all season long--and held leads of 41-31 at the half and 56-50 after three quarters. Okanagan--which chose to shoot 3-pointers for about half of their shots all weekend--was much more successful from distance on Saturday, hitting 12-for-27 through three quarters while VIU shot only 3-for-17 from long range.
However, VIU caught fire in the fourth quarter and out-scored Okanagan 30-19, eventually taking the lead for good with a Shayce Johnston layup to make it 74-73 with 1:07 remaining. An Amber Lease bucket and four free throws from C.J. Buckley--who scored ten of her team-high 25 points in the decisive fourth quarter--sealed the deal for the Mariners in the final minute.
Harriette Mackenzie led all rebounders with 9 (three offensive, six defensive).
For the Coyotes, forward Jordan Kemper led all scorers with 30 points.
Saturday, January 29 Box Score
STATS HIGHLIGHTS
With shooting stats so eye-popping, it's good to mention them again: VIU shot 63.3% from the floor on Friday, including 66.7% (12-18) from three point land. In Saturday's fourth-quarter comeback, the Mariners shot 68.8% (11 of 16) from the floor and were perfect at the foul line (8 for 8) in the final ten minutes.
UP NEXT
First-place VIU (12-0) travels to Douglas College to face the second place Royals (8-2) for a Friday, February 4 matchup (5 PM) that makes up a postponed game from earlier in the season. This will be the first meeting of the season for these two teams, who also meet at VIU for a two-game set on February 18 & 19.
On Saturday, the Mariners return home to host the CBC Bearcats (0-12). Tip-off at the VIU Gym is 12 noon. Games can be streamed live on PACWEST.LIVE.