Mackenzie Smith is shining in her final year of collegiate basketball.
The Burnaby forward has helped lead Capilano University to a 5-1 start with wins against Camosun (76-60), Vancouver Island University (61-55), Columbia Bible College (90-42), Douglas College (63-55) and Okanagan College (85-55).
Even more impressive, Smith was named the PACWEST conference athlete of the week for her efforts in the Blues' two most recent wins, Dec. 1 and 2, notching a total of 23 points and 25 rebounds.
She was also selected to the female athletes of the week list for Dec. 8 by the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) — the country's second highest level of university sports.
"I think a lot of us had a chip on our shoulder from last year's provincial's loss [against Okanagan College], so we wanted to do exactly what we did today, beat them by that 30-point margin," Smith said in a post-game interview on Dec. 2.
Smith stands six-foot-three and is one of three senior athletes with Capilano's 2022-23 campaign.
"We were more prepared for the press. We knew it would be coming. We've seen it in all their game film so far, so it was just about doing what we needed to do during our press break."
In six games this year, Smith is averaging just under 10 points per game, one assist per game and 8.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 46.2 per cent from the free throw line.
The Capilano University Blues are nationally ranked fifth for women's basketball, according to the CCAA's week seven list.
Smith is now on winter break before returning to home court in the new year.
Capilano is set to take on the Douglas College Royals on Jan. 13 and 14 — both games with a 6 p.m. tip-off.
