Metro Vancouver…..The KPU Eagles women’s basketball team fell 69-62 to the visiting Capilano University Blues Friday, November 7th in KPU’s 2014/15 PACWEST CCAA home opener weekend at the Eagles’ Nest in Surrey, BC. The Eagles record is 1-1 heading into Saturday’s game versus the Quest University Canada Kermodes.
The Eagles started the game off with an 8-0 run which would prove to be a hard-fought, competitive, and close match up between these two teams. KPU and Capilano would fight hard on the ball, going back and forth for the majority of the first half and the teams were tied at 17 at halftime.
KPU’s second-year guard Shilpa Khanna, Surrey, BC led the team at the half in scoring with fourteen points. Khanna was 6/12 on field goals and 2/6 on three-point shots. Third-year forward Amber-Lee Kavanagh, Langley, BC had six points while fifth-year post Samantha McPhail, Vancouver, BC led in rebounds with four on the half. The Eagles shot 60% from the line.
Capilano’s leading scorers included fourth-year guard Michelle Errico, North Vancouver, BC with 15 points and second-year forward Karyn Nelson, North Vancouver, BC with four. Second-year forward Carmel M’Bikata, Abbotsford, BC led her team with five rebounds. The Blues shot 40% from the line.
The Eagles found momentum early in the third quarter to push a nine-point gap. Ultimately foul trouble and rebounding would catch up to KPU and the Blues would chip away to end the game at a seven point advantage.
End of game statistics for the Eagles saw Khanna with 20 points and three rebounds which included 8/20 field goals, 2/6 three-point shots, and 1/2 free throws. KPU fourth-year guard Christina Brown, Langley, BC, had 17 points and two rebounds, and Kavanagh finished with nine points, three assists, and three rebounds. First-year point guard Ana Moroziuk, Penticton, BC, played a strong game with 39 minutes on the floor against a veteran Blues team. McPhail led the team with seven rebounds for the game, and KPU maintained a 60% average on free throws throughout the game.
The leading scorers at the end of the night for the Blues were Errico with 22 points, followed by third-year guard Francis Penafiel, Vancouver, BC with 13 points, and second-year guard Chelsea Dekleer, North Vancouver, BC, with 12 points. Kapaiwai led the Blues with nine rebounds and Capilano shot 69% for the game from the line.
“I thought we played a competitive game that saw everyone contribute, but we need to do the little things right and take care of process,” stated Eagles head coach Dan Nayebzadeh, “We are competitive and talented but we need to go back to being solid in fundamentals which means stick to what works, stick to our strengths.”
Scoring:
KPU 13 17 17 15 = 62
CAP 11 17 19 22 = 69
Team Rebounds:
KPU: 13+19=32/CAP: 29+23=52
The KPU Eagles women and men’s basketball programs will host a Food Drive in their first four home games of the 2014/15 regular season in support of the Surrey Food Bank. Admission is no charge when fans bring a non-perishable food item as a donation. Please note that no cash donations will be accepted in lieu of admission. Remaining games include:
- November 8th versus Quest University Canada Kermodes
6:00pm women’s game, 8:00pm men’s game - November 21st versus Camosun College Chargers
6:00pm women’s game, 8:00pm men’s game - November 22nd versus VIU Mariners
1:00pm women’s game, 3:00pm men’s game
For more information on the Department of Athletics & Recreation, please contact Junelle Mah, sports information and marketing, at 604-786-0804 or at junelle.mah@kpu.ca.
The KPU Eagles Department of Athletics & Recreation enters its 14th season of interuniversity competition. The Eagles are members of the PACWEST conference and play in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with 100 student-athletes participating on eight varsity teams in men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, badminton and golf. KPU athletics plays its home games at the Eagles’ Nest (Surrey Campus), Northview Golf & Country Club, Newton Athletic Park, all located in Surrey, BC and the Ace Badminton Centre in Richmond, BC. The Eagles are active in the conference with staff members on various advisory committees and competing to host both provincial and national championships. The student-athletes are mainly from the lower mainland but KPU’s rosters have included student-athletes from North America, South America, Asia and Europe.
Follow the Eagles on Twitter @KPU Eagles, on Facebook www.facebook.com/KPUEagles, or on our website www.kpu.ca/eagles.