Chris Raeside
Sport Information Event Management, Media & Sport Development Officer
The Capilano University Blues women’s basketball team displayed two different ways to compete this past weekend, following up a surgical offensive clinic on Friday with a gritty, bench-led defensive battle on Saturday. While the weekend ended in a 1-1 split against the Columbia Bible College (CBC) Bearcats, the Blues proved they have the firepower and the depth to be a nightmare matchup in the PACWEST.
Friday: Coffin and Parkin Lead Perimeter Barrage
Final Score: Capilano 66, CBC 52
The Blues opened the weekend with a statement of intent, leading from wire to wire in a dominant 14-point victory. The story of the night was Capilano’s absolute precision from beyond the arc, as the team shot a blistering 44% from three-point range (11-of-25).
Veteran forward Madeleine Coffin was unstoppable, recording a massive double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Coffin’s ability to stretch the floor (4-of-6 from deep) kept the Bearcats' defense in a blender all night. She was mirrored by Mia Parkin, who played a staggering 38 minutes and shot 75% from downtown to finish with 15 points.
The Blues’ starting unit—anchored by Barcha Hnizdilova’s 12 points and Sereena Hothi’s 5 points and 5 rebounds—accounted for 58 of the team’s 66 points. Defensively, Capilano suffocated the Bearcats, holding them to a dismal 29% from the field and building a lead that peaked at 21 points in the third quarter.
Saturday: Bench Sparks Resilience in Defensive Slugfest
Final Score: CBC 61, Capilano 58
Saturday’s rematch was a physical, low-scoring affair that saw the Blues adjust to a much tighter defensive whistle. With the starters facing heavy pressure, Capilano’s second unit stepped into the spotlight to keep the game within reach.
The Blues' bench outscored their Friday total by nearly triple, led by a breakout performance from Cassiel Penalosa. Penalosa provided 8 points and 3 assists in 18 vital minutes, while Jade de Fondaumiere was a force on the glass, pulling down 7 rebounds.
Despite the narrow loss, the Blues won the battle on the boards (41-38) and showed incredible heart in a game that featured six lead changes. Mia Parkin transitioned from scorer to playmaker, dishing out a game-high 7 assists, while Barcha Hnizdilova anchored the paint with 5 blocks. The difference ultimately came at the charity stripe, where the Bearcats’ 18 made free throws narrowly edged out the Blues’ superior field goal count.
Weekend Standouts: The Blues’ Pillars
| Player | Combined Weekend Impact |
| Madeleine Coffin | 31 Points, 19 Rebounds; The engine of the Blues' interior game. |
| Barcha Hnizdilova | 21 Points, 11 Rebounds, 7 Blocks; A true two-way threat. |
| Mia Parkin | 20 Points, 14 Rebounds, 10 Assists; The primary floor general. |
| Cassiel Penalosa | 8 Points, 3 Assists (Sat); The spark plug off the bench. |
Looking Ahead: Regular Season Finale
The Blues now turn their attention to a high-stakes final week of the regular season. They hit the road this Friday, Feb 20th, for an away match against the Langara College Falcons.
The regular season then reaches its emotional peak on Saturday, Feb 21st, as the Blues return to the CapU Centre for a home rematch against the Falcons. It will be Seniors’ Night, a final opportunity to honor the graduating class—including impact leaders Maddy Coffin, Sereena Hothi, Alexa Kusel, and Lauren Tomlinson—as they look to wrap up the regular season with a win and carry momentum into the PACWEST Championships.
