Blues host Royals in preview of upcoming PACWEST Basketball Championships
In the final night of PACWEST league play, the CapU Blues (15-6) women's basketball team hosted the Douglas College Royals (18-3) at the Sportsplex.
In the final night of PACWEST league play, the CapU Blues (15-6) women's basketball team hosted the Douglas College Royals (18-3) at the Sportsplex.
The Royals, who were without star forward Nanaya Miki, jumped out to an early 12-6 lead over the Blues to wrap up the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Royals were able to build on their lead behind great ball movement and 15 first-half points by forward Sarah Jorgenson to go into the break with a 27-20 advantage over the Blues. Royals forwards, Ellen Fallis and Rachel Beauchamp converted some huge scoring plays early in the fourth to extend the Royals lead to 43-31. The Blues matched it with their own 11-2 run to bring the game to 45-42 with just under four minutes to play in the game. After gutsy back-to-back charges by the Royals in the last two minutes of the game, the Royals held on for a 53-50 victory.
Fifth-year guard Michelle Errico finished the game with 11 points, which puts her fifth all-time in PACWEST league scoring history with 982 career points. The CapU Blues will face the Camosun Chargers Thursday, March 3rd at 6 p.m. in the first round of the 2016 PACWEST Basketball Provincial Championships at Capilano University.
In a battle of two 500 teams, the Blues men's basketball team (10-10) took on the Royals (10-10) to decide who would finish fourth in the PACWEST and head into provincials as the higher ranked seed. Regardless of the outcome, the two teams would meet again next week in the quarterfinals at the 2016 PACWEST Provincial Championships.
Although the Royals came out hot, hitting four 3-pointers on their first four possessions, the Blues were able to put together an impressive 30-point quarter and head into the second with a 30-19 advantage. The Blues extended their lead throughout a very physical second quarter and headed into halftime up 56-34 over the Royals. Second-year guard and PACWEST leading scorer, Martin Bogajev led the way for the Blues with 23 first-half points.
The Blues continued to pour on the points as they cruised in the second half to a 90-73 victory over the Royals. Leading scorers for the Blues were Bogajev with 28 points and Brendan Bailey with 20 points.
These two teams will meet again Thursday, March 3rd at 8 p.m. at the Sportsplex.
Submitted by: Capilano U Athletics & Recreation