Savannah Mackay
Blues Crew Communications

Barcha Hnizdilova went 5-for-6 from three-point range and ended with a team-high 22 points to lead the Capilano Blues to a 74-53 win Friday night over the visiting Douglas College Royals. 

It was clear early in the game that the Blues weren’t going to let there be a repeat of last weekend, where they lost both games. The team started aggressively with Hnizdilova opening the night with a two-point jump shot. The first half of the quarter was close, with both teams trying not to let the other pull away. That changed when Hnizdilova hit CapU’s first three-pointer, signalling a shift for the Blues as offensive plays from Maddy Coffin andLucia Lopez began to flow. CapU finished out the quarter with strong defensive and offensive sequences, forcing turnovers and intercepting passes. By the end of the first quarter, the Blues had built a lead, finishing the quarter up 21–16.

As the second quarter began, the Blues stayed calm and connected with strong passing and communication. Coffin, Lopez, and Hnizdilova remained at the top of the scoresheet.Lauren Tomlinson showed her support for the team, encouraging her teammates after missed shots and celebrating successful plays. In the final minute of the second, the Blues led 37–29, with each team calling two timeouts. Capilano struggled with the shot clock in the closing minutes but stayed composed despite the Royals’ push, heading into halftime with a 37–32 lead.

Coming into the third, both teams looked re-energized after halftime. The physical play picked up immediately, setting the tone for the quarter. After Tomlinson took a tough hit, Mia Parkin answered with a layup that fired up the Blues’ bench. Possessions grew longer as both teams worked against the shot clock, but CapU stayed composed. Hnizdilova continued her strong night, knocking down another three to keep the momentum on the Blues’ side. A long rally ended with a key CapU basket, followed by a quick layup to stretch the lead. As the Blues lead grew, the Royals were forced to call a timeout to regroup. CapU carried this momentum into the fourth, leading 58–46.

The defense stayed strong in the final quarter, with Lopez controlling the boards on her way to 11 rebounds. The Blues adjusted well to the Royals’ aggressive offense, using interceptions and rebounds to maintain control. Tomlinson hit another important three to push the score to 68–50, forcing Douglas to call a timeout. Tomlinson and Hnizdilova continued to make shots from beyond the arc, extending the lead and securing the 74–51 win. By the end of the night, Hnizdilova had gone 8-for-11 from the field, and Parkin finished with a triple-double (11 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists).

The Blues are back at the Centre for Sport and Wellness tomorrow at 5:00 pm in a rematch against the Royals.