Brent Mutis, CapU sport info & compliance officer

Shots were not falling for the Capilano Blues in the opening 10 minutes of Saturday's gold-medal PACWEST final and it was the difference in a 67-61 defeat at the hands of the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners.

Capilano made just one field goal and one free throw in the first quarter and trailed 16-3. They outscored or were even with VIU each quarter after that but couldn't overcome the start.

VIU advances to the CCAA national championship happening March 16 to 19 at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ont.

Women's basketball loses a heartbreaker but still finishes the season with a silver medal. Keep your heads held high; you've had an incredible season despite the challenges it presented. #GoBlues #NorthVan #CapilanoU pic.twitter.com/ii4yPQp6Lv

— Capilano University Blues (@CapilanoBlues) March 5, 2023

Venica Davignon and Kirsten Abo brought the Blues to life in the second quarter with seven points apiece but VIU mantained a 12-point lead at halftime. 

Mariners guard CJ Buckley scored multiple buckets each quarter to keep VIU afloat and they did just enough in the second half to keep Capilano at arm's length. Abo would end up with 31 points and she drilled four threes in the fourth quarter while Meagan Briggs sank her first baskets of the night in the final frame to help reduce the deficit to single digits but the Mariners managed to hang on.

Abo and Davignon, who recorded 13 points and a season-high 16 rebounds in the final, were named to the tournament All-Star Team. Maddy Coffin added 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks coming off the bench.

VIU's Harriette Mackenzie, who had 16 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in the final, was named Tournament MVP.

Capilano was without the services of fifth-year forward Mackenzie Smith at the tournament. The 6-foot-3 veteran was injured in practice in the leadup to the PACWEST provincials and was unable to get in the lineup.