(Metro Vancouver)---With two games remaining in the regular season, and their playoff berth already confirmed, the 5th ranked Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) women’s basketball team (9W-10L) headed to Vancouver Island to face their Island rivals. Determined to complete the regular season on a high note, the Eagles were focused on finishing the regular season with the highest ranking possible. On Friday, February 15 they faced the 6th placed Camosun Chargers (7W-12L) and on Saturday, they faced the 2nd ranked Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners (13W-6L).
On Friday against the Chargers, the Eagles completed the season sweep, winning all three regular season games. In their past two match-ups, the Eagles held the upper hand against the Chargers, winning the first game in OT and the second by 5 points. At the end of the first quarter, the Eagles held a one-point lead (11-10) and continued their offensive charge in the second half, putting an additional 17 points on the board, to the Chargers’ 12, for a half-time score of 27-22. With some precision shooting in the third, the Eagles broke away from the Chargers and didn’t look back; taking the win 61-47 at the final buzzer.
"We played hard and with intensity right from the start”, said head coach Dan Nayebzadeh. “We won all four quarters on the scoreboard and did a great job overall defensively. It was a complete team effort and a great win for the team as we head into the playoff season."
First year forward Sara Kurath (Abbotsford) was the leading scorer for the Eagles and contributed 13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block and 2 steals. Kurath was closely followed by second-year guard Jessica Villadiego (Surrey) with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals and second-year guard Jeanneine Yngreso with 11 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist. First year forward Amber-Lee Kavanagh (Langley) also contributed 9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block.
Further up the road in Nanaimo, the Eagles faced the Mariners on Saturday for their third meeting of the regular season. In the past two match-ups, the Mariners have edged out the wins, with 9 and 10 points separating both teams. At the end of the first quarter, the Eagles trailed 19-13, but it was the closest they came to the Mariners all game. By half-time the Mariners had extended their lead to 36-17 and continued to control the game until the final buzzer to take the win 72-38.
"We were drained from the game against Camosun, and came out flat”, said Nayebzadeh. “We had an emotional and physical letdown and they were just the better team today."
Third-year centre Samantha McPhail led the Eagles in points and contributed 6 points, 13 rebounds and 1 steal. Second year guard Christina Brown (Langley) also contributed 5 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal.
Despite losing to the Mariners, the Eagles were able to maintain their 5th place in the PACWEST standings and earn their ticket to compete at the 2013 PACWEST Basketball Provincials, hosted by Camosun College in Victoria, February 28- March 2, 2013. This is the fifth time the KPU Eagles women’s basketball team has qualified for the post-season, since the program entered the PACWEST (formerly BCCAA) in 2000. Their quarter-final match-up is against the 4th placed Quest University Kermodes. In their three meetings in the regular season, the Eagles lead the Kermodes 2-1.
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