Varsity 2026: Back-to-back wins for Warwick’s Basketball Bears

Warwick’s Basketball Bears kickstarted Varsity 2026 this evening with a double-header which saw both teams secure the win, in high-intensity, thrilling games. Looking to start the weekend with positive results, the Bears must have been feeling the pressure, especially with Warwick’s long-standing success at Varsity, unbeaten for 35 consecutive years.

Despite the weight of opening the competition, both teams played brilliantly, putting a combined 138 shots past Coventry across the night. Taking place at the Sports Arena in the Sports and Wellness Hub on campus, it was a night of great entertainment with incredible performances from Classical & Modern Dance and Cheerleading, alongside music from Bass Society DJs. With t-shirts and bucket hats up for grabs, it was a night displaying true Warwick spirit.

Men’s Game

The night began with the men’s game at 5pm, hoping to continue their success from their 79-63 win at Varsity 2025. After a brilliant cheer performance, the game began with the Bears scoring the first two-pointer, which was then quickly followed by a Coventry free throw making the scoreboard an even 2-2. Coventry’s number 13 scored an impressive three-pointer, with a missed pass from Warwick’s number 11 meaning the Bears were chasing Coventry’s tails with the score being 8-9.

Six minutes to go, Warwick’s number 7 scored a crucial two-pointer to make the score 10-13, pressing Coventry hard on the counter. After Coventry’s missed three-pointer, Warwick’s number 94 scored an incredible dunk which sparked a huge reaction in the crowd, bringing the score to 12-13. The comeback ongoing, the Bears had incredible defence to prevent Coventry’s number 3’s attempt and managed to catch them on the counterattack, with Warwick’s number 0 scoring a crucial two-pointer to increase the score to 14-13, meaning the Bears were finally on top. A free throw from Warwick’s number 1 meant the Bears stood three points clear from Coventry, at 16-13. However, Coventry was far from finished, with number 8 scoring twice past the Bears defence to bring the score to 17-17, with Warwick missing one of their shots in a free throw. The Bears end the first quarter at a loss, with the score being 18-20 to Coventry.

Going into the final quarter, the atmosphere in the crowd was electric, with almost every seat being filled

Into the second quarter, Coventry dominated play and a missed free throw from the Bears meant they continued their lead. However, Warwick applied pressure on the counter and scored a two-pointer bringing the score to 20-22. An incredible three-pointer from Warwick’s number 36 meant all was not lost, with the Bears chasing Coventry at 23-24. Boosted by the crowds’ chants, the Bears’ number 7 pushed them into the lead at 25-24. In their eagerness to get back in front, Coventry fouls the Bears’ number 1, with there being 5 Coventry fouls to 1 Warwick so far in this quarter. The free throw given boosts the score to 29-24 and the Bears seem to be sailing ahead. A missed three-pointer from Coventry’s number 13 led to Warwick pressing on the counter and the Bears number 7 bringing the score to 31-25. To finish the quarter, Warwick’s number 1 scored an incredible three-pointer, followed immediately by the buzzer, bringing the score to 36-31, the Bears five points ahead.

After a fantastic half-time performance from CMD, the energy of the crowd was high and Warwick started by scoring a brilliant three-pointer, bringing the score to 39-31. The eight-point deficit was not for long as Coventry made it 39-33, but with limited impact as Warwick’s number 36 then scored an incredible three-pointer to make it 42-33, increasing the gap to nine points. A three-pointer from Warwick’s number 6 brings the score to 47-34, with Coventry really falling behind and needing a comeback, which they get from Number 3 who scores several two-pointers and a three-pointer to put pressure onto the Bears, making the score 47-44. A three-pointer from Coventry’s number 8 makes it 53-52, but a combination of two-pointers from the Bears numbers 8 and 6 bring the total to 57-52, as the crowd begins chanting “We win every week”. With eighteen seconds left of the quarter, Coventry manages to put one past the defence, but Warwick end the third quarter on a high, comfortably four points ahead at 57-53.

Going into the final quarter, the atmosphere in the crowd was electric, with almost every seat being filled. Despite Coventry scoring first, Warwick’s number 7 makes the score 59-55, continuing their four-point lead. However, Coventry don’t make things easy for them, closing the gap to 59-57. With eight minutes left of the game, the Bears’ number 7 makes a great interception, allowing his teammate, number 94, to dunk the ball into the basket, bringing the score to 61-57, and creating an incredible reaction from the crowd.

Another unbelievable dunk from the Bears number 94 brings the score to 65-59 and with five minutes to go, Warwick start to believe they’ve done it again. However, they can’t celebrate yet as Coventry make it 65-64 after frustrating two-pointers from the opposition. A Coventry three-pointer confirms the worst and the score of 65-67 with four minutes to go puts the Bears in a very undesirable position. Following a brief timeout, Warwick’s number 11 brings the dream back, scoring an incredible two-pointer, pushing the score to 67-67. The Bears’ number 11 is not finished yet as he scores another two-pointer returning Warwick to the lead at 69-67. Suddenly, we are into the final minutes, and Coventry are the ones in desperate need of something here. Chants of “Let’s go, Warwick” echo as the Bears score another two-pointer, with Coventry needing a three-pointer to stay in the game.

With a nail-biting 7 seconds to go, Warwick get a free throw, almost guaranteeing the victory, and number 6 scores twice, bringing the score to 73-68. A huge reaction from the crowd, as with four seconds left of the game, Coventry could not catch up and the Bears bring it home for Warwick. Speaking to the coach after the game, he revealed the Bears player of the match was deservedly Number 7 Enes Altindag, who was crucial in the team’s success.

Women’s Game

At 7:15pm, it was the women’s team’s turn to maintain the Bears’ winning streak, aiming to achieve a strong win like their 65-54 win last year. A two-pointer from Warwick’s number 1 and a fantastic three-pointer from number 18 gave the Bears the strong start they were looking for, putting the score at 5-0. Pressure from Coventry made the score 5-2 but a mistake meant Warwick won the ball with the Bears number 1 racing down the court to then score a brilliant two-pointer, bringing the score to 7-2. Sadly, a collision between Warwick’s number 13 and Coventry’s number 15 meant the latter had to be helped off the court by medical staff, to an applause from the crowd.

Going into the final quarter, the opposition needed an incredibly strong performance and a backcourt violation from Warwick’s number 3 gave them an opportunity

The Bears continued their strong performance increasing their score to 11-5, putting the pressure onto Coventry, forcing them to make mistakes such as drifting outside the lines of the court. Chants of “Let’s go, Warwick” had a similar effect as in the game earlier, with Warwick’s number 12 bringing the score to 13-7. After a time out, Warwick’s number 44 intercepted a Coventry ball and demonstrating incredible teamwork, passed to number 47 who scored a two-pointer, bringing the Bears lead to 15-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter began with Coventry desperate for a comeback, eight points behind the hosts. Opposition’s number 5 scored a two-pointer bringing the score to 15-9, with Coventry attempting to close the gap. A beautiful three-pointer from Warwick’s number 5 denied all possibilities of this, with the Bears achieving an outstanding fourteen-point lead of 24-10 by the time another time out is called. However, Coventry were far from finished and a three-pointer from their number 12 brings the score to 24-13, still a huge eleven points under. Warwick’s number 44 missed a three-pointer allowing Coventry to catch them on the counter, with the opposition number 5 bringing the score to 27-15. Coventry’s number 5 then scored another two-pointer which sparked a huge reaction from the away bench, and the second quarter ends with the gap slightly smaller, at 27-20.

A strong performance from the Bears denied Coventry any dream of overtaking, with two-pointers from Number 3, 1 and 17 bringing the score to 35-20 in the beginning of the third quarter. Incredible defence from Warwick meant Coventry were denied any chances of closing the gap, however a foul on opposition’s number 2 gave them a free throw which they monopolised on, scoring twice, bringing the score to 43-31. Persistent marking from Coventry’s number 11 resulted in the Bears losing the ball and Coventry’s number 5 scoring, bringing the score to 43-33, still a ten-point gap. Coventry’s number 11 then missed twice allowing Warwick’s number 47 to catch them on the attack, scoring on her second attempt, making the score 45-33. With Warwick bringing the score to 49-35 at the end of the third quarter, surely Coventry cannot comeback from a fourteen-point deficit this late into the game.

Going into the final quarter, the opposition needed an incredibly strong performance and a backcourt violation from Warwick’s number 3 gave them an opportunity for it. However, nothing materialised, perhaps foreshadowing how the rest of the game would go for the opposition. After a time out, Warwick’s number 1 scored a strong two-pointer, and with seven minutes to go and a score of 51-39, the Bears are dominating, exemplified by a two-pointer from Warwick’s number 3, bringing the score to 53-39. A double dribble from the Bears gave Coventry another opportunity which they did take advantage of, bringing the score to 53-43.

With the ten-point gap looming over them and incredible defensive work from Warwick, a Coventry win seems impossible, and a stunning three-pointer from the Bears number 18 almost confirms this to the crowd. With two minutes left and another strong two-pointer from Warwick’s number 14 bringing the score to 60-47, the crowd has a huge reaction, chanting “Let’s go, Warwick”, as the Bears number 13 scores a beautiful three-pointer. To end the game as strongly as they started, Warwick’s number 3 brings the final score to 65-49 with thirty seconds to go, and the crowd counting down to the final buzzer. After a dominant performance and a brilliant display of teamwork, the coach named Imogene Williams, number 1, rightful player of the game, as she was crucial to the Bears success tonight.

Tonight, the Warwick Bears displayed their talent brilliantly, with two strong wins to continue Warwick’s success at Varsity. Hopefully, Warwick will follow the example of the Bears across the sporting events tomorrow and bring home at 36th consecutive Varsity title.