Week 9 Tips Off Friday Night

Week 9 of the PACWEST basketball season tips off on Friday night with three games on the schedule.

Okanagan Coyotes @ Douglas Royals – Friday January 27, 6:00pm | WATCH HERE

Arguably it’s the most intriguing matchup on Friday night when the Coyotes visit the Royals with just four points separating them in the standings.

The third place Royals have won two in a row scoring 95 points in each of those victories on the road at CBC. They are back at home following four in a row on the road and are trying to improve on their 3-2 home record.

In their only other meeting of the season, the Royals took down the Coyotes 81-64 in Kelowna in early November. They shot 40% that game with Jenessa Knapp scoring a game high 17 points and Avnoor Waraich pulled down 12 rebounds. It’s unclear if Knapp will play as she has been out of the line-up since the second semester began.

The Coyotes continue to play on the road as Friday night will be their seventh straight away from Kelowna. They are playing much better as of late, winning four of their last five and are coming off a bye week so should be well rested to face the Royals. They trail them in the standings but do have two games in hand. In that November loss they shot 31% with Ali Martineau leading the way with 15 points.

Head-to-Head

Records: Coyotes 5-5 – Royals 7-5
Average Points For: Coyotes 70.2 – Royals 68.3
Average Points Allowed: Coyotes 71.7 – Royals 57.5

Leading Scorers: Soleil Wilding 15.1/game (Coyotes) – Jenessa Knapp 14.3/game (Royals)

Leading Rebounders: Natasha Alfonso 7.3/game (Coyotes) – Laini Glover 7.5/game (Royals)

Capilano Blues @ Langara Falcons – Friday January 27, 6:00pm | WATCH HERE

The only blemish on the Blues overall record this season was a 62-58 loss to the Falcons on November 19th. On Friday night they meet again.

Since that loss the Blues have won eight straight and are tied for first in the standings. They shot 32% that game but found it tough to beat the Falcons defence. Kirsten Abo dropped a team high 14 points and Mackenzie Smith had 10 points and 11 rebounds. The reigning Athlete of the Week Ida Jonsson-Ojala was not in the line-up that night.

The Falcons have been going in a different direction since that win at Capilano. They have won just once since and have lost five in a row. They shot 39% in that victory with Julia Sprott connecting on a game high 21 points.

Head-to-Head

Records: Blues 9-1 – Falcons 2-8
Average Points For: Blues 71.2 – Falcons 53
Average Points Allowed: Blues 55 – Falcons 65.2

Leading Scorers: Ida Jonsson-Ojala 11.7/game (Blues) - Davian Tsang 11.1/game (Falcons)

Leading Rebounders: Meagan Briggs 7.4/game (Blues) – Claire Huang 5.6/game (Falcons)

CBC Bearcats @ VIU Mariners – Friday January 27, 6:00pm |WATCH HERE

For the second time this season the Bearcats and Mariners will battle. In early December the Mariners blasted the Bearcats 90-37 in a lopsided game.

That victory is part of their six-game winning streak. They shot 42% from the field with Harriette Mackenzie going off with 26 points and 12 rebounds. They are tied atop the PACWEST standings and are looking to be the first team to 10 wins.

The Bearcats are looking for an upset but will need to take care of the ball. In that loss to the Mariners they turned the ball over 34 times and only shot 22%. Emma Nguyen led them with 11 points.

Head-to-Head

Records: Bearcats 0-10 – Mariners 9-1
Average Points For: Bearcats 47.8 – Mariners 73.5
Average Points Allowed: Bearcats 86 – Mariners 51.4

Leading Scorers: Ashyana Kumar 11.9/game (Bearcats) - Harriette Mackenzie 18.5 (Mariners)

Leading Rebounders: Brianna Grondo 9.2/game (Bearcats) - Harriette Mackenzie 13.7 (Mariners)