A historic night awaits as the Okanagan Coyotes women’s team prepares to face the undefeated VIU Mariners in the PACWEST gold medal game. Both squads have already secured their spots at the upcoming CCAA National Championships, but Saturday’s showdown is all about the title.
The Mariners enter the final with a flawless 18–0 record and are chasing their third straight PACWEST crown. They earned their spot with a strong semifinal win over the Douglas Royals, fueled by a dominant third quarter. Although their shooting cooled to 33.3% in that game, standout Shayce Johnston dropped 18 points to lead the way.
OC, in only its third season, is making its first appearance in the championship game. After a gritty 82–73 upset over Capilano in the semifinal, the Coyotes are now guaranteed their first PACWEST medal. Jordan Kemper and Paloma Niz Velazquez have been key players, and while the Coyotes dropped all three regular-season games to VIU, their most recent meeting was a tight five-point loss.
This gold medal match-up promises a clash of styles—OC’s momentum and heart against VIU’s dominance and experience. With the Coyotes playing their third game in three nights, the question remains: can they dig deep and make history?
By the Numbers – Head-to-Head:
- Records: Mariners 18–0 | Coyotes 10–6
- Points Per Game: Mariners 79.7 | Coyotes 78.8
- Points Allowed: Mariners 55.4 | Coyotes 64
- Field Goal %: Mariners 39.7% | Coyotes 38.9%
- Top Scorers: Ranika Guyton (12.6 PPG – VIU) | Jordan Kemper (17.7 PPG – OC)
- Top Rebounders: Shayce Johnston (7.5 RPG – VIU) | Jordan Kemper (8.3 RPG – OC)
