With the PACWEST Athletic Association provincial championships just days away, the UNBC Northern Timberwolves basketball teams have both climbed in the national rankings.
When the new Canadian Colleges Athletic Association list came out on Tuesday, the UNBC women were at No. 7 in the country, up one spot. The UNBC men, meanwhile, jumped two positions, to No. 9.
In the women's division, the Grant MacEwan Griffins of Edmonton are ranked No. 1. They are followed in order by the Vanier Cheetahs, Sainte-Foy Dynamiques, St. Thomas University Tommies, Vancouver Island University Mariners, Dawson Blues and UNBC. VIU is the only B.C. team ranked ahead of the Timberwolves. The T-wolves finished the season at 15-1 and the Nanaimo-based Mariners went 14-2.
On the men's side, the Mariners -- UNBC's chief rival -- are the new No. 1 team in the rankings. VIU, which compiled a 15-1 record, moved up from No. 3.
The Mount St. Vincent University Mystics sit at No. 2, followed by the NAIT Ooks, Champlain-St. Lambert Cavaliers, Humber Hawks, Sheridan Bruins, Vanier Cheetahs, Mount Royal Cougars and the T-wolves. UNBC had a 13-3 regular season.
Both UNBC clubs have byes to the provincial semifinals. They will play their games on Friday at Capilano University in North Vancouver.
See Thursday's Citizen for preview stories.
