The Final Six Are Ready

The top six women's teams are ready for the 2019 PACWEST Championship tournament which opens at 12:30pm on Thursday on the campus of Douglas College.

#1 VIU Mariners

They opened the season on a nine game winning streak, then finished the regular campaign winning eight straight. They have been playing like a team possessed looking to avenge last season’s bronze medal loss. Offensively they have been extremely balanced with only one player in the top 10 in PACWEST scoring. Collectively as a team they are averaging 75.7 points a game, more than any other team in the Conference. They will have a first round bye in the playoffs and won’t play until Friday when they face the winner of the Douglas-Langara quarterfinal.

PACWEST Record – 17-1
Home 7-1, Road 10-0
Points Per Game – 75.7
Field Goal % - 37.6%

Player to Watch:

Avery Snider: In 10 games this season she was the Mariners leading scorer averaging 15 points a contest and primarily coming off the bench. She also averages 5.7 rebounds a game.

Shayce Johnston: She has been a force down low for the Mariners this season. She averages 7.9 rebounds and tallies over 11 points game.

Madeline Hart: A Nanaimo native who averages 2.9 assists a game. She is very quick on defence and is able to pick the pocket of the opposition ball carrier, compiling 21 steals this season.

Longest Conference winning streak: They won 9 straight to open the season from November 1 – January 12th

Last FIVE Playoff Games
2018 – PACWEST Bronze Medal Game – Loss – 77-67 Douglas Royals
2018 – PACWEST Semi-Final – Loss – 58-57 Capilano Blues
2017 – PACWEST Quarterfinal – Win – 57-47 Quest Kermodes
2017 – PACWEST Bronze Medal Game – Win – 79-57 Camosun Chargers
2017 – PACWEST Semi-Final – Loss – 56-43 Douglas Royals

#2 Capilano Blues

The defending PACWEST champion Blues were the only team to beat the top ranked Mariners this season. Despite many news faces the Blues were again one of the best teams in the PACWEST. They have lost just one game after the Christmas break and have earned a first round bye in the playoffs. Offensively the Blues have a PACWEST high shooting percentage of 39.5% from the field. They will hit the floor on Friday and will battle the winner of the Camosun Charger-Okanagan Coyote quarterfinal.
|
PACWEST Record – 14-4
Home 8-1, Road 6-3
Points Per Game – 72.9
Field Goal % - 39.5%

Player to Watch:

Reiko Ohama: With the graduation of Ashley dela Cruz Yip, Ohama has taken over as the floor general and averages a team high 14.4 points a game. She’s averaging over four assists a game as well.

Alessia Brutto: The Italian has been great for the Blues this season in the paint. She pulls down almost 10 rebounds a game and offensively averages 12 points a game.

Sherrie Errico: She’s the best deep threat for the Blues knocking down 32-three pointers and averages 12.7 points a game. She’s the lone fifth year player and will be that calming presence on the floor.

Longest Conference winning streak: They have won 9 straight heading into the playoffs from January 12 - February 16.

Last FIVE Playoff Games
2018 – CCAA Bronze Medal Semi-Final – Loss – 83-67 College Montmorecy
2018 – CCAA Bronze Quarterfinal – Won – 76-64 Medicine Hat College
2018 – CCAA Quarterfinal – Loss – 73-69 Dawson College Blues
2018 – PACWEST Gold Medal Game – Won – 75-70 Camosun Chargers
2018 – PACWEST Semi-Final – Won – 58-57 VIU Mariners

#3 Camosun Chargers

Since the calendar flipped to February the Chargers have struggled getting in the win column. They finished 2-4 in February after an undefeated 6-0 January. They are the defending PACWEST silver medalists laced with veterans. They have five players with at least four years of experience which will help them in the post season when stakes are the highest. They will face the sixth seeded Okanagan Coyotes on Thursday afternoon at 12:30 in a quarterfinal. The winner will move onto face the second seeded Capilano Blues on Friday.

PACWEST Record – 11-7
Home 5-4, Road 6-3
Points Per Game – 69.2
Field Goal % - 34.6%

Player to Watch:

Tessa Lannon-Paakspuu: The fourth year guard has been a difference maker for the Chargers this season. She has averaged 13 points a game and 5.6 rebounds despite being one of the smallest players of the floor. She is also averaging over two assists a game.

Kathryn Candell: The fifth year guard has only started twice for the Chargers this season, but has been outstanding since coming back from a knee injury in November. She’s played in 13 games and averaged 11 points. She can also dial it in from long distance and has been a proven threat from deep.

Mia Roberts: The former PACWEST Rookie of the Year continues to play well now in her third season. She’s averaging over 11 points a game and is very good on the defensive side of the ball with 28 steals and four blocks.

Longest Conference winning streak: They have won 8 straight from November 16 – January 26

Last FIVE Playoff Games
2018 – PACWEST Gold Medal Game – Loss – 75-70 Capilano Blues
2018 – PACWEST Semi-Final – Won – 71-63 Douglas Royals
2018 – PACWEST Quarterfinal – Won – 73-57 CBC Bearcats
2017 – PACWEST Bronze Medal Game – Loss – 79-57 VIU Mariners
2017 – PACWEST Semi-Final – Loss – 76-37 Capilano Blues

#4 Douglas Royals

They won PACWEST bronze last year after finishing with the best regular season record, upset by the Camosun Chargers in the semi-final. This season they have returned just one starter but she has been outstanding. Rachel Beauchamp has once again willed her team to win and will once again be part of the discussion as the Conference’s Player of the Year. They will have the extra support this season as the hosts of the championship tournament and play on a floor where they have been 8-1 in the regular season. The Royals will face the #5 seeded Langara Falcons in Thursday’s quarterfinal with the winner moving onto the semis to battle the top ranked VIU Mariners.

PACWEST Record – 10-8
Home 8-1, Road 2-7
Points Per Game – 58.1
Field Goal % - 33.4%

Player to Watch:

Rachel Beauchamp: She’s averaging a double-double in her final season with 19.3 points and 13.5 rebounds a game. She won the PACWEST scoring title averaging four more points a game than the next player.

Jessica Castillo: A second year guard who will need to quarterback this offence and get the ball into Beauchamp’s hands as much as possible. She finished with 43 assists and will also need to offer some secondary scoring after averaging 5.7 points a game in the regular season.

Sydney Fraess: The rookie guard has been the Royals second best offensive threat with over nine points a game. She had a team high 28 steals and added 24 assists.

Longest Conference winning streak: They have won 3 straight heading into the playoffs February 14-16.

Last FIVE Playoff Games
2018 – PACWEST Bronze Medal Game – Won – 77-67 VIU Mariners
2018 – PACWEST Semi-Final – Loss – 71-63 Camosun Chargers
2017 – CCAA Bronze Medal Semi-Final – Loss – 64-62 NAIT Ooks
2017 – CCAA Bronze Medal Quarterfinal – Won – 78-60 MSVU Mystics
2017 – CCAA Quarterfinal – Loss – 99-44 Lethbridge College

#5 Langara Falcons

They are back in the playoffs after missing them last season. They limp into the post season on a three game losing streak. They are a very young team with just two players with at least three years’ experience. Head Coach Curtis Nelson is in his first season and is a proven winner. He has already started to change the culture at Langara getting this playoff experience will be key. The Falcons will face the #4 Douglas Royals in Thursday’s quarterfinal. The Falcons and Royals last met in the playoffs in a PACWEST (BCCAA) Quarterfinal in 2006 that the Falcons won 66-56. That was also the last time the Falcons won gold.

PACWEST Record – 6-12
Home 3-6, Road 3-6
Points Per Game – 60.7
Field Goal % - 33.3%

Player to Watch:

Breanne Homeniuk: She has led the Falcons offensively this year in just her rookie season. She averaged 12.8 points a game and 4.6 rebounds.

Alexa Leynes: She is second in team scoring with 11.8 points a game and 4.6 rebounds. She led the Falcons in assists and three-pointers.

Ainsliegh Mensah: She is the lone fifth year player and can play a tough game in the paint. She averaged 10.8 points a game and was the team’s top rebounder with 5.3 a contest.

Longest Conference winning streak: They won 2 straight when visiting the Okanagan on February 1st and 2nd.

Last FIVE Playoff Games
2018 – PACWEST Quarterfinal – Loss – 73-64 VIU Mariners
2017 – PACWEST Quarterfinal – Loss – 68-38 Quest Kermodes
2011 – PACWEST Quarterfinal – Loss – 90-57 UBC Okanagan Heat
2009 – PACWEST Bronze Medal Game – Win – 65-55 Capilano Blues
2009 – PACWEST Semi-Final – Loss – 76-49 Camosun Chargers

#6 Okanagan Coyotes

They are in the playoffs in their inaugural season but they haven’t won since January 11-12 after the CBC Bearcats defaulted. Their actual last win came against the second seeded Capilano Blues on November 17th. Their first ever playoff opponent is the same team they played in their first game; the third seeded Camosun Chargers. They will lock horns on Thursday in a quarterfinal.

PACWEST Record – 5-13
Home 3-7, Road 2-6
Points Per Game – 55.8
Field Goal % - 33.3%

Player to Watch:

Megan Admussen-Blair: She led the Coyotes in scoring this season averaging 12 points a game and grabbed 5.7 rebounds.

Sapna Deo: She averaged 10 points a game and was tied for the team lead in assists with 31.

Deziree Day: Primarily coming off the bench this season she led the Coyotes with 21 steals and 23-three pointers. She also chipped in with 7.4 points a game.

Longest Conference winning streak: They won 2 straight on November 9th and 10th on the road.