Douglas College won the game they needed, but lost one they perhaps shouldn't have in PacWest women's basketball last weekend.
The Royals played sound defensive basketball to score a 40-35 victory over Vancouver Island University at Douglas College on Friday.
Douglas then lost a Saturday afternoon matchup to visiting Camosun College 55-43.
The weekend split left Douglas and VIU tied for second place in the women's division, both with identical 11-6 records. However, the win was enough to clinch a playoff spot for the Royals.
Capilano University currently holds down first place with a 15-2 record. Quest University is close behind in fourth place with a 10-7 mark.
"With a young team, we seem to struggle a bit more against the 1980s Detoit Pistons/1990's New York Knicks' style of game that a few of the teams in the league like to play," said Douglas women's head coach Curtis Nelson. "I'm happy with the way we are progressing overall, even though many of the girls have hit the freshman wall recently."
Two first-year Royals who are playing through the team's rough patch are guard Taylor Carle and post Kenny Witney.
Carle had eight points and 15 rebounds in the win over Vancouver Island. The following game, she scored 13 points and seven boards.
Whitney recorded 10 rebounds in Friday's win and then posted a double-double in the loss to Camosun, collecting 10 points and 11 boards.
"Having clinched a playoff spot helps take the pressure off a bit," Nelson added. "Now we can just keep working on the little elements of the game that we need in order to be ready for the upcoming playoff run."
Douglas is away to Columbia Bible College and Kwantlen Polytechnic this weekend.
