Movin' On Up
Mariners gain sole possession of second place with two wins at Capilano
NORTH VANCOUVER - In two games that put the Mariners to the playoff-intensity test, VIU stuck to it and brought two big wins over Capilano back to Vancouver Island. These wins also pushed the Mariners four points above Capilano in the standings with six games remaining.
JANUARY 30: VIU 57 Capilano 45
The Mariners shot out to a 14-0 lead, finished the first quarter up 24-5, and held steady the rest of the way to earn a 12-point win over the Blues.
Guard Sarah Cook had an outstanding game. She scored a game-high 15 points in only 19 minutes and pulled down three rebounds. Kaia Simpson grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, with seven of them coming on the defensive end.
Alexa Kusel led the Blues with 11 points.
JANUARY 31: VIU 63 Capilano 61
Kaia Simpson goes airborne in defense against the Capilano Blues on January 31, 2026. Photo courtesy Capilano University Blues
In a tight game that featured nearly identical shooting and rebounding stats, the Mariners did just enough down the stretch to come out with a two-point win.
Mackenzie Cox made two free throws to break a 61-61 tie with 1:23 left on the clock. A Blues block with eight seconds remaining gave Capilano one last offensive possession, but a three-point attempt just before the buzzer hit the front of the rim and bounced down to a VIU defender.
Trista Thorn earned a double-double from 12 points and 10 rebounds. Simpson added 7 points and 6 rebounds.
Barcha Hnizdilova scored 18 points and added 11 rebounds to top the Capilano stats.
Up Next
The Mariners (15-3) welcome an Okangan College Coyotes team still looking for its first win of the season to the VIU Gym this weekend. Games are on Friday, February 6 at 5 pm and Saturday, February 7 at 11 am.
For more information, please contact VIU Mariners Communications & Sports Information Coordinator Matt Carter.