NANAIMO — The VIU Mariners women’s basketball team have earned their way to the final game of the season and a chance to hang another banner high in the rafters.
The Mariners again fought their way back from a double-digit deficit, using a raucous crowd at the university gym to beat the Dawson College Blues 76-72 on Saturday, March 26 in the tournament semi-final.
An emotional Tony Bryce, head coach of the women’s basketball program, told NanaimoNewsNOW they worked out a way to win.
“I’m just so proud of this group and all the work they’ve put in, it’s been a ride. Just such a gutsy group of kids, I love them so much. I work hard, they work hard and we’re a beautiful combination together…we’ve got one more though, we’re not done.”
Harriette Mackenzie led offensively for the second night in a row, collecting 23 points while also leading the Mariners with nine rebounds. Kayla Gregory earned player of the game honours for her 13 points and seven rebounds.
But it was the physical nature of the game which really came through. Neither side gave an inch, with every passage up court earned.
Bryce said Dawson did something Saturday night few other teams have done to VIU this year.
“They’re so tough defensively, they just wear you down. Not many teams have worn us down but they wore us down. We just willed our way to a win, I don’t think either team is thrilled with the way they played but we just showed a lot of will.”
Bryce credited the crowd for pulling VIU over the finish line.
Fifth year guard Amber Lease marshalled the offense for most of the evening, under constant pressure from Dawson.
“Dawson is a tough team, I have not been pressured like that all year long,” Lease said. “We were tired. I would say because we were at home and because of the crowd tonight, they helped will us in to want to win more and give us a little extra to get it done.”
Lease, perhaps more than most VIU players, commands most of the attention in the stands with her own dedicated fan club behind one baseline.
She added it’s the kind of support which pushes her harder.
“I have a great group of fans here at VIU, I do a lot at the school, I work at the school so it’s all my peers here that made those signs.”
The Mariners will play for a CCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship against the NAIT Ooks at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 27.
The Amber Lease fan club, co-workers and friends of the fifth year VIU student. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.
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