VIU sinks Eagles basketball teams Saturday

Both Kwantlen Eagles basketball teams suffered tough losses against Victoria Island University Mariners at home in Surrey Saturday.

The Mariners put the women’s team through the wringer first, coming out with a 91-47 win over the Eagles.

Eagles forwards Shmyla Thandi and Chantelle Doerksen led in points for the Eagles with 15 and nine points.

The teams tied in three-point shot efficiency.

On the men’s side, things weren’t much better, with the Mariners men’s team taking an 87-66 win over the Eagles.

Forward Ali Bosir and guard Mike Davis managed to pull together 16 points each for the Eagles, but their hard work wasn’t enough to come back from an 83-61 Mariners lead. The Eagles led the Mariners in three point shots 18-15.

Gary Pawluk, coach of the Eagles women’s team says that while the team showed a strong effort the night before, only losing by nine, he wants his team to be playing a higher, more consistent level.

Next Friday and Saturday, the Eagles will face off against the Quest University Kermodes, games that Pawluk says will determine whether the Eagles make it into the playoffs.

“We gotta work hard this week to succeed this weekend,” said Pawluk. “It’s one of our most important weekends of the year. We have to adjust to their style of play and their strengths and take care of their strengths accordingly and try  to utilize ours a little better.”