Women's Weekend Recap: Knockout Punch

It's rare that the top seed is still up for grabs this late in the season, but the Mariners have shown that they can step up when the lights shine brightest. Against a team eager to play spoiler, they'll have to shine brighter than ever.

Friday - VIU 62, Douglas 49

Well, that was anticlimactic.

In front of a raucous home crowd, the Mariners played like their season was on the line. Douglas' mighty offense was held to only 28 points through the first three quarters and limited to just one made three all game. Though the Royals tried to come back in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Mariners 21-10 in the final frame, the deficit was too large to overcome.

With such a dominant win in the rearview, the Mariners secure their third straight regular season PACWEST championship and their fourth in the last five seasons.

Trista Thorn and Kaia Simpson tied for the game lead with 13 points and a block each. Kiayra Hohlweg grabbed eight rebounds and dished four assists, both team highs.

Laini Glover led the Royals with 11 points while adding six rebounds. Mackenzie Dalphond pulled down 14 rebounds and came one point shy of a double-double, while Dana Sander scored five points, including Douglas' only made three.

Saturday - VIU 71, Douglas 59

With playoff seeding already decided, the Mariners used this game as an opportunity to honor their three graduating players: Rachel Labrador, Mackenzie Cox, and Kaia Simpson.

Compared to last night, the Royals played with much more intensity, leading multiple times throughout the first quarter, but couldn't withstand VIU's constant midrange onslaught. Though the Mariners only had one made three-pointer deep into the third quarter, their defense held the fort and completed an undefeated home season.

Trista Thorn echoed her earlier performance against Langara, scoring 25 points while adding seven rebounds, two blocks, two assists, and a steal. Mackenzie Cox was the only other Mariner to reach double digits, scoring 10 points and adding four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Despite a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double from Mackenzie Dalphond, Douglas' offense went quiet. Amar Thiara and Elena Skalik each had nine points, but no other Royal got higher than Laini Glover with seven.

The Mariners enter the PACWEST championship as the #1 seed. They will face either CBC or Langara in the semifinals. Conversely, Douglas earns the other first-round bye as the #2 seed, awaiting either Capilano or Camosun.