Hamilton, ON - The opening game of the 2023 CCAA Women's Basketball National Championship didn't favour the Mohawk Mountaineers, falling to the VIU Mariners 81-53. However, the tournament doesn't end here as the Mountaineers will have a backdoor opportunity at Nationals bronze.

Mohawk introduced their new jerseys for the first-time, wearing a newly branded burnt orange-style uniform. 

The Mountaineers kept the game close in the first quarter versus the Mariners, finding themselves down by only eight going into the second. But the Mariners' offense would start to heat up as the game continued and Mohawk trailed 51-24 going into halftime. Mohawk could not claw their way back into the game after that.

Rachel Guanzon was named the Mountaineers Player of the Game for her 16-point performance as she knocked down three threes. 

Coming into the tournament with an automatic spot as the host, Mohawk knew they could not take any opponent lightly.

"All teams in the tournament are the best of the best, we knew it was going to be a challenge," said head coach Mihai Raducanu. "One thing we told the team is that our new motto is to 'stop feeling sorry for ourselves, have fun and act like we belong here'."

The Mountaineers are still guaranteed two more tournament games, with two wins meaning they'll play a third that will be for CCAA bronze. Their first roadblock to that bronze will be the Red Deer Queens on March 16 at 3 p.m. inside the David Braley Athletic and Recreation Centre at Mohawk College.