The Pacwest playoffs were a one-and-done situation for the Columbia Bible College Bearcats men’s and women’s basketball teams.
The women entered the tournament as the number three seed, but ultimately fell 79-74 in overtime to the host and sixth-seeded Okanagan College Coyotes on Thursday (Feb. 29).
Bearcats up 14-3 early. Nice ball movement and rebounding here pic.twitter.com/8K38hgw02M
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) February 29, 2024
The Bearcats jumped out to a 14-3 lead early and led 23-16 after one, but things began unravelling in the second quarter and CBC trailed 42-37 at halftime.
The club made a late-push in the fourth quarter and forward Madeline Beerwald made a big-three point shot in the final minute to tie the game at 67 and send it to overtime.
Beerwald makes a HUGE shot, game tied at 67 late pic.twitter.com/2yx6wv52ZM
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) February 29, 2024
The extra frame saw the Coyotes outscore CBC 12-7 to eliminate the Bearcats. Elissa Vreugdenhil, who just prior to the game was named the player of the year, led the Bearcats with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Beerwald had a great game off the bench with 18 points.
The Bearcats had challenges containing OC’s Elizabeth Henne, who collected 22 rebounds to go with 20 points. CBC was dominated on the glass and was out rebounded 52-34. The Bearcats also struggled from beyond the arc and made just three of 22 three-point shots.
The loss ends what was the most successful regular season in program history for the women’s program, as they finished with a 14-10 record.
The Bearcats fell behind 23-12 in the first and committed six turnovers in the opening frame en route to a 76-64 loss to the Capilano Blues in the quarter-final on Thursday. CBC never managed to get back into the game after that early stumble, but closed the gap to as low as six in the fourth.
Clive Adams nails a three for CBC pic.twitter.com/K8Nz3DwO9J
— Ben Lypka (@BenLypka) February 29, 2024
Damein Coleman Jr. scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Bearcats and Cam Carter added 14 points and five boards off the bench. Kash Lang was the Blues top scorer with 19 points, four rebounds and three steals.
The Bearcats made just five of 18 from the three-point line and only managed 25 rebounds in the loss.
The game marked the men’s team’s first playoff appearance since 2008.