Sinking ship for the Mariners

Douglas College women’s basketball team starts off season with flying colours

By Michael Sopow, Sports Reporter

The Douglas College women’s basketball team played their second regular season league game on November 7 against the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners.

The Royals, having started off the season with a close-fought but confident win against the Langara Falcons, were looking to maintain their composure and add another “w” to the win column. The Mariners, also having won their first game, were ambitiously looking to reel in the victory from Douglas’ grasp. The game began with pressure from both teams right from the get-go. The pace of the game was defined and determined by quick-moving offensive plays and solid “brick-wall” defensive stops.

Although the Mariners appeared to have an early advantage in the beginning minutes of the first quarter, the Royals’ defence soon began to take its toll on VIU’s lead and the Mariners’ turnover rate was certainly noticed on the scoreboard. By the closing seconds of the first quarter, the Royals had brought the game back to 9-8, trailing by one point but looking motivated to come into the second quarter with a bang.

Douglas College started off the second quarter with some nifty offensive plays that generated multiple offensive opportunities and defensive fouls, allowing them to not only keep up with the Mariners, but to start pushing ahead on the scoreboard through successfully made free-throws and nicely timed shots. The Mariners seemingly had no answer for Douglas College’s stellar defensive-based offensive and they soon began to trail by the end of the second, 25-18.

“I think our defence was phenomenal in the first half and that kind of set the tone,” said head coach Courtney Gerwing. “They only scored nine points each of the first two quarters which against that team is pretty good defence. I think that sets the tone for us, and then our offence got better as the game went, but definitely defence was the first thing.”

After the half, VIU began to pick up the pace and seemed to find a temporary gap in Douglas’ defence. Coming out strong in the first minutes of the third, they brought the game back to within one point and kept it that way for a couple possessions. However, the Royals quickly regained their composure and once again began to pull away on the scoreboard.

Shortly into the fourth, the Royals up 42-33, the game seemed like it was already over. However, as the last quarter proceeded, the Mariners began to make some crucial baskets and inch the score closer and closer. What truly kept the Royals ahead was their team energy. Even as the game became increasingly tense, they continued to be supportive on and off the floor, and the support definitely showed in their playing. In the last two minutes of the game, the Mariners tried everything they could to try and get back into the game but at the end of the day, they just couldn’t stay afloat. Final score, 50-46.