More than OK in the Okanagan

PENTICTON - The Mariners opened the regular season with a test: get two wins after the longest road trip of the regular season. The test was passed with flying colours as VIU swept the weekend set against the Okanagan Coyotes.

Friday, October 17: VIU 83 Okanagan College 61
Box Score

Fifth-year guard Mackenzie Cox ensured her final season was going to start on a winning note. She scored a team-high 16 points on 6 of 8 shooting to lead the Mariners to victory. Cox also grabbed a game-high 6 rebounds. 

Teammate Kiarya Hohlweg also shot 6 of 8 from the field and finished with 13 points. Allison Bentley drained 13 points as well, powered by three buckets from beyond the arc. 

Antonella Luraghi led the Coyotes with 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Saturday, October 18: VIU 93 Okanagan College 54
Box Score

The Mariners put up 93 points in the biggest offensive showing in the conference in the first week of play and improved to 2-0. The host Coyotes suffered their second loss of the season.

VIU held Okanagan to 11 first quarter points and 6 fourth quarter points. Ten Mariners saw the floor in the first quarter with seven earning points, led by Sammy Shield's 6 points to go along with 4 rebounds. Shields finished with team-highs in points (19) and rebounds (8) while Emily Sprott counted 6 assists.

Luraghi led the Coyotes again with a game-high 21 points.

Athlete of the Week

Cox was named VIU women's basketball athlete of the week thanks to her strong opening performance and leadership.

Up Next

The Mariners travel to Abbotsford to take on the CBC Bearcats in a matchup between the conference's only 2-0 teams. Games go Friday, October 24 at 6 pm and Saturday, October 25 at 12 pm. Watch the livestream on the CBC Bearcats YouTube page.

For more information, contact Matt Carter, VIU Mariners Communications and Sports Information Coordinator.