Women's Weekend Recap: Crown War

The top two teams in the PACWEST matched up last weekend with first place on the line.

Friday - VIU 48, Douglas 70

VIU's young roster looked as such on Friday as the Mariners suffered their second loss of the season in a game they needed to win to keep pace in a competitive PACWEST.

An early pair of free throws gave the Royals a lead they would cherish for the rest of the evening. Both teams performed evenly throughout the game, but Douglas' hot start let them keep the Mariners at arms' length.

Though the Mariners went into the final quarter down by only eleven, their anemic offense dragged them down once again, and this time, there was no Trista Thorn to save them. VIU shot a combined 26.9% from the field.

Mariners fans shouldn't be scared. This was a reality check for the conference's youngest roster, and the early struggles of both Okanagan and Langara all but ensure a playoff spot for the Mariners. Douglas has proven countless times that they can roll with the country's elite, and another loss for VIU was inevitable.

Mackenzie Dalphond led the way for the Royals, posting a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double. Reigning PACWEST DPOY Lauren Clements was stellar as well, scoring 15 points.

VIU's highest scorer was Sammy Shields, who tacked 12 on the board. Unfortunately, no other Mariner scored more than seven.

Saturday - VIU 62, Douglas 48

That's more like it.

At first, things looked grim. A three from Lauren Clements just five seconds in set the stage for what looked like a repeat of last night's trouncing, but VIU ended the quarter on a 9-0 run to take a four-point lead into the second, and a seven-point lead into the half.

It was all VIU in the third quarter. The Royals only mustered 10 points to VIU's 19, which game them enough of a cushion to cruise to a much-needed bounce back win.

Tony Bryce got to witness a game's worth of teach tape with how strong VIU's defense was, especially down the stretch. Though VIU's offense remains a question mark at this point in the season, their defense is strong enough to keep them in games against the conference's elite.

Trista Thorn and Sammy Shields recorded 11 points and 4 rebounds each, while Kiayra Hohlweg and Sarah Cook combined for 17 boards. Mackenzie Dalphond once again led the Royals in scoring with 14 points.

Now tied with Douglas atop the PACWEST, the Mariners return home next week for a crucial matchup with the Capilano Blues.