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Vancouver Island University

Weekend Preview: Home After the Holidays

Mariners kick off 2026 by taking on the Bearcats at the VIU Gym

VIU Mariners women's basketball
(L-R) Mackenzie Cox, Aysia Kumar, Sarah Cook, and Kaia Simpson check in during a January 2026 exhibition game against Trinity Western University. Photo: Mary Kessenich
January 8, 2026

NANAIMO - The top of the PACWEST women's basketball standings is crowded after the first half of the season. Top-seeded VIU faces another one of those teams high up in the standings, the defending CCAA champion Columbia Bible College Bearcats (CBC), to start the spring 2026 semester.

Who, When & Where

  • VIU Mariners (10-2, first in the PACWEST, CCAA ranked #5) vs CBC Bearcats (8-4, fourth in the PACWEST)
  • Friday, January 9 at the VIU Gymnasium, Nanaimo, 6 pm
  • Saturday, January 10 at VIU Gymnasium, 1 pm

Tune In

Games are streamed on the VIU Mariners Athletics YouTube page.

Head-To-Head

The Mariners and Bearcats split two games in Abbotsford in October. CBC took the first game 55-47 and VIU won the rematch 60-55 on the strength of a Kiayra Hohlweg double-double (13 points and 14 rebounds).

Watch Out Now

CBC: Japanese guard Kagari Tomita is in the midst of an outstanding season. She appears in the conference top five in points per game, three point percentage, steals, and assists.

VIU: Guard Sammy Shields upped her game as the fall semester went along. She sits second on the Mariners in points per game (9.5) and is third in conference steals.

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