Bearcats Playing for National Championship

CBC Bearcats vs. St. Mary’s Lightning – Saturday March 15, 3:00pm PST | GOLD MEDAL GAME

Just two seasons ago the Bearcats finished another PACWEST season without a win.  It was their fourth straight campaign without a victory.  Fast forward to 2025 and the Bearcats are playing for a CCAA national gold medal and their first national title.

Needless to say it’s been an incredible turnaround with just one win away from their first ever national championship banner. 

Coming into this championship tournament, the Bearcats were a PACWEST wildcard berth after winning the silver medal two weeks ago, the program’s first ever PACWEST medal.  In their first game on the national stage on Wednesday they defeated the RSEQ champion Geants de Saint-Jean 67-61, then followed that up with another victory over a Conference champion, beating the SAIT Trojans of the ACAC 63-55 to advance to the gold medal game.

They have had the timely offensive bucket when needed, but more importantly they are getting it done on the defensive end holding both Conference champions to 30% shooting from the field.   On the offensive side, their starters have played the majority of the minutes and are producing. 

Elissa Vreugdenhil is averaging 15.5 points per game, Kagari Tomita exploded for 24 points in the opening game and tallied eight in the second and Madeline Beerwald, Grace Park and AJ Sobotta have contributed when called upon.

Saturday afternoon they will meet another wildcard berth in the St. Mary’s Lightning from the ACAC who fell in their Conference gold medal game to the Trojans.

The Lightning have been led by the CCAA Player of the Year in Maitlynn Miller this season.  She was second in scoring during the regular season while leading the ACAC in steals and assists.  In the first two games of the championship tournament she is averaging 20 points but she hasn’t needed to be the primary source of scoring.  The Lightning are well rounded getting production from Jazmyn Kellogg, Kendal Russell and Adit Deng.

The PACWEST Conference has only captured one CCAA gold medal since 1998.  The VIU Mariners won the national title in 2023 snapping a 22-year draught.  The Bearcats are guaranteed a national medal which will be the Conference’s third in the past four seasons.