Mariners Will Play for Gold
The VIU Mariners will play for PACWEST gold after a win over the Langara Falcons
By Eric Thompson
The second semifinal of the 2018-19 PACWEST Women’s Basketball Championship saw the VIU Mariners advance to the gold-medal game with a 78-32 win after the Falcons were forced to play most of the second half with just 3 available players.
Injuries and foul trouble reduced the Falcons roster to just Ainsleigh Mensah, Breanne Homeniuk and Eloise Faehndrich midway through the third quarter, with the Falcons already down by 25 points after a huge second quarter performance from the #1 seeded Mariners was followed up by a strong start to the second half.
Player of the Game honours went to Langara’s Ainsleigh Mensah, who finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds. VIU’s player of the game was Emma Platner, who finished with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
The Mariners will face the Capilano Blues in the gold-medal game on Saturday, while the Falcons are set to play the Camosun Chargers for bronze.
Following the game Mariners head coach Tony Bryce talked with Ryan Watters.