A group of collegiate basketball players in B.C. say they will not play a pair of games against another team in their division this weekend due to alleged verbal and physical mistreatment of a transgender teammate that they say has not been addressed.

All 13 players on the Vancouver Island University Mariners squad have signed a letter saying they do not feel safe playing at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford.

鈥淎ll of us should be free to be ourselves and play the game we love in a supportive and safe environment 鈥� including queer and trans athletes,鈥� read the letter.

Mariners forward Harriette Mackenzie spoke in October about verbal and physical mistreatment she endured when her team hosted Columbia Bible College for a pair of games in Nanaimo.

Mackenzie, who is transgender, said the visiting team鈥檚 coach, Taylor Claggett, went on a 鈥渢irade鈥� after losing on Oct. 25, yelling at a Mariners staff member about how Mackenzie shouldn鈥檛 be allowed to play against women. A social media account linked to Claggett also posted anti-trans messages after the game.

The two sides played again on Oct. 26 and Mackenzie claimed her opponents physically targeted her. She shared a video from the game where, away from the ball, a Columbia player tosses Mackenzie to the ground.

Columbia Bible College, an evangelical Mennonite bible college, later said in a statement that Clagget was 鈥渟peaking out for the safety of her players like any good coach would do.鈥�

鈥淲e stand in support of Taylor Claggett, and all our coaches, in expressing their legitimate concerns for the safety of our student-athletes,鈥� the statement said.

Mackenzie filed a complaint with the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST), but the letter released by her team on Tuesday said the governing body has not investigated or issued any suspensions or consequences.

鈥淏y doing nothing, by saying nothing, by issuing no suspensions or sanctions, your message is clear: you think what happened was OK,鈥� read the letter addressed to VIU and PACWEST leadership.

鈥淲e need you to know that we are not OK with what happened. We don鈥檛 feel safe playing at CBC or with that team so long as coach Claggest is still free to behave the way she did. Your inaction isn鈥檛 just disappointing. It has made us and the game less safe.鈥�

Vancouver Island University, Columbia Bible College and the Pacific Western Athletic Association did not respond to requests for comment.

The team鈥檚 letter said players are being asked to play games in Abbotsford on Friday and Saturday despite their fears and amid misgivings about a safety plan.

鈥淭he harm done to Harriette and our team was done on the court by this coach 鈥� a coach and a team whose conduct you apparently condone,鈥� it read. 鈥淣o unmarked buses, separate entrances, or banning of protest signs will protect us from that.鈥�

The letter also suggested players were told that if they feel unsafe, they should stay behind and not play in the games.

鈥淵ou are asking us to risk our safety or forfeit a game and lose our standing,鈥� it read. 鈥淵ou are suggesting we divide and some of us go play while leaving those who feel the most unsafe behind. What kind of choices are those? You should be standing with us, standing up for safe and fair play.鈥�

The team 鈥� ranked first in the conference and fifth in the country with an 11-1 record 鈥� said it will not play at CBC until PACWEST suspends Claggett, moves the provincial championship to a venue other than CBC, and requires the school to commit to a 鈥渮ero-tolerance policy for hate and discrimination.鈥�

The letter argued that VIU should not be penalized with a loss if the team does not play Friday and Saturday鈥檚 games. If PACWEST won鈥檛 commit to registering no wins or losses for the games, the conference must postpone them, the letter said.

鈥淲e love this game, and we love our team,鈥� it read. 鈥淲e are counting on you to have our backs and do what鈥檚 right.鈥�