Playoff Preview: Back to Back 'Cats

Mariners and Bearcats meet in the 2026 PACWEST semifinals after playing in the title game last season

CBC

13-12, 13-12

VIU

22-3, 22-3

Final	1	2	3	4	T
CBC 13-12, 13-12	21	10	15	13	59
VIU 22-3, 22-3	14	21	19	16	70

VIU Mariners vs CBC Bearcats women's basketball — VIU's Kiayra Hohlweg (middle), an 2025-26 conference all-star, was also in the middle of the action when the Mariners and Bearcats faced off in the 2025 conference title game, won by VIU. Photo: Mary Kessenich

Game Leaders

CBC

Pts: Katelyn Mallette - 20

Reb: 2 Players (#1, #14) - 7

Ast: Kagari Tomita - 8

VIU

Pts: 2 Players (#2, #24) - 14

Reb: Kaia Simpson - 10

Ast: Trista Thorn - 3

Team Stats

Game Statistics	CBC	VIU
Field Goals	(23-60)	(19-60)
Field Goal %	38.3%	31.7%
Rebounds	30	36
Assists	13	9
Turnovers	18	11
Pts off Turnovers	13	18
2nd Chance Pts	3	10
Pts in the Paint	32	18
Fastbreak Pts	0	0
Bench Pts	19	22

Full stats

March 6, 2026

VICTORIA, BC - The 2025 PACWEST conference champion VIU Mariners and 2025 CCAA national champion Columbia Bible College Bearcats are set to face off again in the 2026 postseason. This time, there is a trip to the conference gold medal game and a guaranteed spot at the 2026 CCAA Women's Basketball National Championship on the line.

Who, When & Where

PACWEST Championship Semifinal: VIU Mariners (21-3, top seed in the PACWEST, CCAA ranked #3) vs CBC Bearcats (13-11, fourth seed in the PACWEST)
Friday, March 6 at the Pacific Institute for Sport Education, Victoria, BC, 12:30 pm
Visit the Tournament Website for more details

Tune In

The game will be streamed on PACWEST TV on YouTube.

Head-To-Head

VIU won three of four meetings with CBC this season. The teams split a pair of close games in Abbotsford in October: a VIU 55-47 win followed by a CBC 60-55 triumph. In January, the Mariners swept the weekend set in Nanaimo, 68-55 and 74-52.

The Mariners lost their next game but won their next nine to enter the postseason on a solid winning streak.

The Bearcats went 5-5 in their last ten regular season games and defeated Langara 68-46 in the PACWEST quarterfinal to advance.

Watch Out Now

CBC: Guard Kagari Tomita, a conference first-team all-star, was CBC's Player of the Game in the quarterfinal win over Langara. Kendal Dueck was named to the All-Rookie Team.

VIU: The Mariners enter the game with three conference award winners on the roster: Kiayra Hohlweg, first team all-star; Trista Thorn, second team all-star; and Emily Sprott, All-Rookie Team.

The Stakes

The winner moves on the PACWEST gold medal game on Saturday, March 7 at 5:30 pm against the semifinal winner of Capilano University and Douglas College while the semifinal losers will play for bronze Saturday at 12:30 pm. The conference champion and silver medallists both qualify for the 2026 CCAA Women's Basketball National Championship March 18-21, hosted by Dawson College in Montreal, Quebec.

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