National Champions!
[Game recap courtesy Mohawk College / CCAA]
Gold Medal Game: VIU Mariners 60, Géants de Saint-Jean 54
Closing Ceremony/Celebration Photos
The VIU Mariners are 2023 CCAA Women's Basketball National Champions. A 60-54 victory sealed the deal for the Mariners over the Géants de Saint-Jean.
It was an overall redemption story for VIU, who a season ago also made the championship game, claiming a silver medal in 2022.
Against Saint-Jean, the Mariners jumped out to an early lead after the first quarter, leading 15-8.
Prior to the half Saint-Jean would go on a run that would end with them leading by two heading into the break.
Saint-Jean would continue to add to their lead, but their offense would go cold in the final quarter, shooting 9.5 per cent. The Mariners defence would hold Saint-Jean to four-points over the final 10 minutes and took over the lead early in the fourth to claim the national banner.
Harriette Mackenzie was named tournament MVP after producing three double-doubles over three games. In the gold medal game Mackenzie put up a monster 17-points and 19-rebounds.
The 4imprint Player of the Game for VIU was Chloe Scaber with nine points. Clara Bergeron of Saint-Jean would also earn the honours with 10-points and five rebounds.
VIU notes: In addition to Mackenzie's MVP honour, Mariners Ranika Guyton and C.J. Buckley were named tournament first team all-stars. VIU's win marked the first time a PACWEST team had won the women's basketball national championship since the Malaspina Mariners topped the nation in 1998. Vancouver Community College's national championship in 1983 was the only other CCAA title in women's basketball for a team from British Columbia.