The VIU Mariners basketball teams swept their Island rivals to stay on course as playoffs draw nearer.
Vancouver Island University’s men’s and women’s teams picked up wins Saturday against the Camosun Chargers at the VIU gym. The women won 52-39 and the men followed with an 87-62 win.
The women’s match got within three points in the third quarter before the M’s found Camosun’s shooters, clamped down defensively, grabbed rebounds and made plays at the other end of the floor.
“The girls have a will to win and they don’t quit,” said Bill McWhinnie, the team’s coach. “We’re not the highest-scoring team in the league and we’ve got to win defensively. We grind out games.”
Amanda Tapia, VIU point guard, said her team's chemistry helps it pull through in close games.
"We're comfortable, so we kind of know where someone's going to be…" she said. "There's a nice flow with our offence. We trust each other."
Sienna Pollard led VIU with 23 points and 11 rebounds, Tapia scored 10 points and Jenna Carver grabbed 15 rebounds.
In the men’s game, Justin King scored 19 points and Jerod Dorby added 16.
GAME ON … VIU’s basketball teams are at home Friday (Feb. 20) and Saturday versus the Columbia Bible College Bearcats and the Kwantlen Eagles, respectively. Friday's women's game is at 6 p.m. with the men's game at 8 p.m. and Saturday's tipoff times are 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com