Women's Championship Basketball

The PACWEST championship tournament opens on Thursday and the final six teams are ready for post-season action.

#1 VIU Mariners

They are the top team in the PACWEST and in the country after finishing the regular season undefeated dominating the Conference beating teams by an average margin of 24 points.

Offensively they are well-balanced with six different players averaging over 10 points a game.  They move the ball well and create second chances with offensive rebounds.  From the field they shot 39% and 27% from the third point line, but it’s their quickness that gives the opposition fits.

They are just as quick on the defensive side as well holding teams to 31% shooting, 55.1 points a game and creating 22.7 turnovers each contest.

The Mariners have their eyes set on PACWEST gold as well national gold as the host of the women’s CCAA championship in March.

Record: 18-0
Average Points For: 79.1
Average Points Against: 55.1
Field Goal %: 39.4%

Leading Scorer: Ranika Guyton – 12.8/game (played in 9 games)

Leading Rebounder: Shayce Johnston – 7.6/game

#2 Capilano Blues

The Blues earned a bye into the PACWEST semi-final after winning seven straight to finish the regular season.  In 2020 the Blues were set to attend the women’s national championship as a second PACWEST representative however the pandemic cancelled the tournament and they missed out.

Coming into the PACWEST tournament the Blues have won five straight medals, four of them silver and a gold in 2018.  They are looking to get back to the gold medal game for the sixth straight season and will play in a semi-final on Friday.

Record: 12-4
Average Points For: 72
Average Points Against: 59.5
Field Goal %: 38.1%

Leading Scorer: Jenna Griffin – 11.1/game

Leading Rebounder: Ina Jonsson Ojala – 12.1/game (played in 7 games)

#3 Okanagan Coyotes

The Coyotes have their best seeding in school history as the third seed and will be the home team for the first time in a PACWEST playoff game.  They will play in a quarterfinal on Thursday trying for their first ever post-season victory.   They are a gritty team that loves the three-point shot attempting 517 during the regular season and connecting on 29% of them.   

On the defensive side they have used their quickness and a press to frustrate teams.  They force over 22 turnovers a game and will need to do that when they face the Langara Falcons in Thursday’s quarterfinal.

Record: 10-6
Average Points For: 78.1
Average Points Against: 63.1
Field Goal %: 38.4%

Leading Scorer: Jordan Kemper – 17.2/game

Leading Rebounder: Jordan Kemper – 8.3/game

#4 Douglas Royals

The Royals limp into the PACWEST championship and will play in Thursday’s quarterfinal looking to get back to the gold medal game for the first time since 2017.  That said they are the defending bronze medalists and have won bronze in two of the last three seasons.  They are the fourth seed and will face the Camosun Chargers in their first playoff game.

Offensively they have been led by the dynamic duo of Jenessa Knapp and Laini Glover who are the only players averaging double-digit points.  Most of the offence runs through these two players and they will need to have big performances if the Royals hope to have a long playoff run.

Record: 10-8
Average Points For: 70.5
Average Points Against: 61.1
Field Goal %: 36.9%

Leading Scorer: Jenessa Knapp – 14.6/game

Leading Rebounder: Laini Glover – 7/game

#5 Camosun Chargers

The Chargers are the fifth seed and come into the PACWEST championship tournament losing three straight.  They will play in a quarterfinal on Thursday when they take on the fourth seeded Douglas Royals.

The last Conference medal they captured was in 2019 when they won bronze after finishing with a silver in 2018.  The last time they won gold was in 2009, the only is school history.

Offensively they don’t score a lot of points which means defence will be so important on Thursday. They just have one player who averages double-digits but will need to spread the ball around in the playoffs to have success.

Record: 7-11
Average Points For: 69.4
Average Points Against: 68.5
Field Goal %: 32.8%

Leading Scorer: Chelsea Espenberg – 12.6/game

Leading Rebounder: Tamiya Ness – 7.4/game

#6 Langara Falcons

The young Falcons come into the playoffs losing two straight and are the sixth seed needing to play in a quarterfinal on Thursday.   They won just four games this season and will be in tough when they face the Okanagan Coyotes to open the tournament.  Of all six teams in the PACWEST championship they score the fewest points and will need to play fast, solid defence in their hope for an upset.

The last time they won a PACWEST medal was in 2009 when they won a bronze and haven’t appeared in the title game since 2007 when they captured a silver.  The last time they won a Conference championship was in 2006.

Record: 4-14
Average Points For: 59.3
Average Points Against: 74.4
Field Goal %: 30.1%

Leading Scorer: Jessica Castillo – 14.9/game (played in 9 games)

Leading Rebounder: Rachel Labrador – 5.8/game