Lauren Grey
Blues Crew, Communications
It wasn’t the result they envisioned, but the fight was there from the get-go as the #3 ranked Columbia Bible College (CBC) Bearcats best the #4 ranked Blues 92-79 to start 2025.
From the opening whistle, it was clear this would be a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging points and momentum. Madeleine Coffin set the tone early, draining a three-pointer to get the Blues on the board. Though the offence struggled to find a rhythm at first, they settled in midway through the opening quarter, gradually finding their flow on both ends of the court.
Coffin was a standout throughout, anchoring the defense with timely steals and key stops when the team needed them most. The physicality of the game was evident early on, with both teams getting into foul trouble as the game progressed.
The night’s biggest storyline was the long-awaited return of 3rd-year point guard Jenna Griffin. The veteran made her first appearance since an injury sidelined her earlier this season, and it didn’t take long to see her impact. Griffin played crucial minutes, providing leadership and experience on the floor.
Friday also marked the debut of Amaya Hrbinic, who was called into action in the second half to add depth to the bench as the team continues to manage lingering injuries.
The energy in the gym was electric, with the fans making their presence known as the team closed the gap. As the minutes wound down, the team dug deep, rallying to cut the deficit to just 6 points with under two minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter.
The fourth quarter saw lots of fight as they closed the gap to 3 points early, but the Blues came up just short in their comeback. Mia Parkin had a standout performance, recording 21 points and 8 rebounds, while Barcha Hnizdilova was a force in the paint, grabbing 12 rebounds and 17 points.
They are back in action tomorrow for a rematch against CBC at 5 pm as they look to split the weekend series with the Bearcats.
Leading the way in tonight's loss:
— Capilano University Blues (@CapilanoBlues) January 18, 2025
Parkin: 21 PTS, 7 AST
Hnizdilova: 17 PTS, 12 REB
Coffin: 17 PTS, 6 REB#GoBlues #BleedBlue #CapU pic.twitter.com/XWgHzrtNPC
Post-game interview with Jenna Griffin as we discuss her return to the line-up, facing a strong CBC Bearcats squad, adjustments for tomorrow and more.#GoBlues #BleedBlue #CapU pic.twitter.com/ibyWQkapOt
— Capilano University Blues (@CapilanoBlues) January 18, 2025
