Metro Vancouver…..Back-to-back losses for the KPU Eagles women’s basketball team at home this weekend to the Camosun College Chargers (score 87-47) and Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners (score 57-35) keeps the Eagles in seventh place in the PACWEST going into the holiday break. KPU’s 2014/15 record now stands at 1-6. A third of the regular season is now in the record books, each team has played each other once with two more meetings left when play resumes on January 9, 2015.
The Eagles are working hard to regroup after losing three players days before the season opened. The addition of fifth-year Eagles soccer import Kathlin Trudeau, Surrey, BC has provided additional experience and support to the young KPU bench as does the continued guidance of fifth-year post Samantha McPhail, fourth-year Eagles guard Christina Brown, Langley, BC, and third-year forward Amber-Lee Kavanagh, Langley, BC. "This break is going to help us," commented Eagles head coach Dan Nayebzadeh, "We need to get healthier and find our focus so that we are able to compete."
L to R: Eagles Brown, Senghera, & Trudeau hard at work against VIU
Game recap versus the Camosun College Chargers on Friday, November 21st:
The Eagles, tied for seventh place in PACWEST, got off to a good start in the first quarter against the number four PACWEST-ranked Chargers. The teams traded leads until a late bucket by Eagles second-year guard Aliya Senghera, Surrey, BC put KPU up by 2, 21-19, after 10 minutes. From there, the Eagles offense would struggle as the Chargers secured a lead in the second quarter that would remain as a cushion for the remainder of the game. Going into halftime the score was 46-23 in favor of the visitors.
Second-year guard Shilpa Khanna, Surrey, BC led first-half scoring for the Eagles (10 points, two assists) followed by Kavanagh (four points, one assist). Kavanagh and first-year point guard Amelia Worrell, Liberia, Costa Rica led the team in rebounds with three each. The Eagles shot 63% from the line.
The Chargers halftime leaders included first-year guard Haley Cabral, Victoria, BC (nine points, two assists) and second-year winger Amy Acheson, Victoria, BC (eight points, one assist, one steal). Camosun shot 78% from the line.
KPU regained footing in the second half but were unable to make up for the second quarter. Determined and tenacious, the team fought for every point but in the end the Chargers came out on top, 87-47. Khanna remained the Eagles scoring leader for the night (15 points, three assists, two rebounds, two steals), while third year guard Haeley Williams found her stride (nine points, two assists, one steal), and McPhail had a strong second half as she led her team on both ends of the court (eight points, one assist, seven rebounds, two steals). The Eagles shot 29% from the line to end the game at 47% overall.
Chargers fourth-year guard Ella Goldschmid, Victoria, BC would lead Camosun for the night (21 points, three assists, eight rebounds, one steal), followed by Cabral (18 points, five assists, one rebound). The Chargers shot 40% from the line in the second half, 64% overall for the night.
"We were having troubles scoring and defending," stated Coach Nayebzadeh, "We didn't come out to compete and we need to bring more passion to our game."
Scoring:
KPU 21+ 2+12+12 = 47
CAM 19+27+24+17 = 87
Total Rebounds:
KPU 16+20=36/CAM 23+28=51
Game recap versus the VIU Mariners on Saturday, November 22nd:
Similar to the previous night’s game against the Chargers, the Eagles struggled to make up points with their number three PACWEST-ranked visitors after a rough quarter. The Mariners went on a 13-0 run in the first 10 minutes, and while KPU was able to outscore VIU 12-11 in the second quarter the halftime score was 24-12 in favor of the visitors.
Khanna, Kavanagh, and Brown each had three points while McPhail had two. Defensively McPhail led with four rebounds while Kavanagh and Williams each had three. KPU shot 50% from the line.
VIU’s leading scorer at the half was third-year forward Sienna Pollard, Auburn, WA, USA (eight points, one assist, eight rebounds) followed by fifth-year forward Jenna Carver, Nanaimo, BC and fourth-year guard Amanda Tapia, Lynden WA, USA (five points each). The Mariners shot 62% from the line.
The Eagles had a stronger third quarter as they held the high-scoring VIU offense to only 10 points and contributed nine of their own. KPU was able to utilize their full bench in the fourth but after a valiant push, the Eagles were short of making up for the first quarter scoring deficit and fell 57-35.
McPhail had a tremendous game and led the Eagles on both ends of the court (10 points, one assist, one steal). Brown (six points, two rebounds, and one steal), Khanna (four points, one assist, eight rebounds, two blocked shots, and one steal), Worrell (four points, one assist, three rebounds, two steals) provided offensive and defensive support. Kavanagh, Williams, and Surrey, BC each contributed three points. KPU shot 69% at the line in the second half which averages to 68% for the game.
The leaders for VIU included Pollard (20 points, one assist, 10 rebounds, two steals), Carver (13 points, one assist, 12 rebounds, one blocked shot), and Tapia (eight points, four assists, six rebounds). The Mariners shot 80% from the line, averaging 70% for the game.
"We came to play today, we competed better. We need to continue to bring our competitiveness to every game, every practice, "" Coach Nayebzadeh explained, "I challenged Sam (McPhail) after yesterday's game, today she was tougher and brought a lot to the table. Christina's leadership stood out and our rookies are getting better with each game. They showed a lot of fiestiness and heart when the game seemed out of hand today, and it is that kind passion that we all need to bring to all four quarters of every game."
Scoring:
KPU 0 +12+ 9 +14 = 35
VIU 13+11+10+23 = 57
Total Rebounds:
KPU 22+18=40/VIU 25+27=52
The 2014/15 PACWEST season resumes on Friday, January 9th versus the CBC Bearcats; the women tip off at 6:00pm and the men at 8:00pm. The Eagles will have a seven game home-stand to round out the second third of the regular season.
The KPU Eagles women & men's basketball teams would like to thank the KPU Bookstore for their pop-up shop during Friday and Saturday's games.
For more information on the KPU Bookstore, please visit http://www.kpu.ca/bookstore.
Kwinten exuberantly shows off the KPU Bookstore's 'Pop-Up' Store at his women & men's basketball games
The Eagles would also like to thank their sponsor Earls Restaurant (Strawberry Hill) for providing tasty treats and gift certificates for fans, as well as supplying our halftime shoot-out contest winners with $50.00 gift certificates.
For more information on Earls Restaurant, Strawberry Hill please visit https://earls.ca/locations/strawberry-hill.
Earls Restaurant Strawberry Hill showcasing their friendly service and fantastic food at Saturday's game
(Photo Credit: KPU Sports Information)
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.