Redemption for Mariners, who strike CCAA gold

Harriette Mackenzie

Gold Medal Game: VIU Mariners 60, Geants de Saint-Jean 54
The VIU Mariners are the 2023 CCAA Women's Basketball National Champions. A 60-54 victory sealed the deal for the Mariners over the Geants de Saint-Jean.
It was an overall redemption story for VIU, who a season ago also made the championship game, claiming a silver medal in 2022.
Against Saint-Jean, the Mariners jumped out to an early lead after the first quarter, leading 15-8.
Prior to the half Saint-Jean would go on a run that would end with them leading by two heading into the break.
Saint-Jean would continue to add to their lead, but their offense would go cold in the final quarter, shooting 9.5 percent. The Mariner's defense would hold Saint-Jean to four-points over the final 10 minutes and took over the lead early in the fourth to claim the national banner.
Harriette Mackenzie (188-F) was named tournament MVP after producing three double-doubles over three games. In the gold medal game, Mackenzie put up a monster 17 points and 19 rebounds.
The 4imprint Player of the Game for VIU was Chloe Scaber (173-G) with nine points. Clara Bergeron of Saint-Jean would also earn the honors with 10 points and five rebounds.
Bronze Medal Game: Dawson Blues 87, Red Deer Queens 70
The Dawson Blues captured the 2023 CCAA Women's Basketball National Championship bronze medal with a dominant 87-70 win over the Red Deer Queens.
The Blues controlled the game from tip-off, taking a 29-13 lead after the opening 10 minutes.
Red Deer would find their offensive game in the second quarter, but Dawson would settle back in defensively in the third quarter to keep a hold on their lead for the remainder of the game.
The 4imprint Player of the Game for Dawson was Marie-Denise Ntambue with a team-high 23 points. For Red Deer, the Player of the Game was Amy Szymanek with 13 points.

Courtesy of ccaa.ca

Tags : HARRIETTE MACKENZIE, VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY, CANADIAN BASKETBALL