Heading into Sunday’s championship final of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association national women’s basketball tournament, Harriette Mackenzie had been player-of-the-game in the opener and led both teams in scoring in the second game.
The Comox-raised rookie plays on the host Vancouver Island University Mariners of Nanaimo, who beat the top-ranked Lakeland Rustlers of Lloydminster, Alta. 76-71 Friday, and then beat the Dawson College Blues of Quebec 76-72 on Saturday.
In the first game, Mackenzie came off the bench to score 12 points and 11 rebounds, “and was a huge factor to the Mariners’ second-half rally,” the CCAA website states.
In the second game, Mackenzie “found herself reaching the line consistently.” She scored 23 points, and went eight for 18 in shooting.
“Mackenzie continues her tournament to remember, being named player of the game in the previous match.”
The Mariners, ranked number eight heading into the 15-team tourney, faced the NAIT Ooks in Sunday’s gold medal game. Although NAIT was seeded 15th, the Edmonton side won 76-71 in overtime.
“A tough result last night but the amount of battle and effort shown by the Mariners all tournament long is almost inconceivable,” said Matt Carter, VIU communications co-ordinator. “We’re all so incredibly proud of these student-athletes, and it’s the best result for a PACWEST (BC) women’s basketball team at CCAA nationals since 2005. Thanks to this team, the VIU Gym was rocking at a noise and energy level that I haven’t seen in more than a decade.”
Mackenzie was selected as a CCAA national first team tournament all-star.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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