Metro Vancouver…..The KPU Eagles women’s basketball team entered the final third of the 2014/15 PACWEST CCAA season with two losses this past weekend to the Capilano University Blues, 56-43, and the Quest University Canada Kermodes, 71-55. The Eagles record is now 4-12, for eight points and sixth place in the PACWEST. The February road trip takes the team to Abbotsford, BC for a Friday the 13th final showdown with the CBC Bearcats to help solidify that final playoff spot. CBC trails KPU by one win in the standings and with the season series tied at 1-1 with a two-point differential in favor of the Bearcats, the stakes are high for this Friday's game.
Game recap versus the Capilano University Blues
The Eagles faced the Blues in North Vancouver, BC on Thursday in the third and final showdown of the season. A low-scoring first quarter kept both teams in the single digits, 8-6 in favour of the Blues, while the second quarter saw both offenses start running as KPU would trail by five, 21-16 at halftime.
The third quarter would prove to be troublesome for the KPU as the Blues out-scored the Eagles 21-9. The gap would maintain for the remainder of the game and while the KPU offense found momentum in the last ten minutes, they were unable to overcome the deficit and fell 56-43 to the Blues.
Second-year guard Shilpa Khanna, Surrey, BC, continues her strong season (15 points, three rebounds, one blocked shot) followed by KPU’s rebounding leader fifth-year post Samantha McPhail, Vancouver, BC, (nine points, eight rebounds, one steal), third-year guard Jessica Villadiego, Surrey, BC (six points, six rebounds, six assists, three steals), and third-year guard Haeley Williams, Maple Ridge, BC (six points, eight rebounds, one assist, one steal). The Eagles were 0/4 from the line in the first half, and shot 4/11 for 36% in the second half.
Leaders for the Blues were second-year forward Karyn Nelson, North Vancouver, BC with a double-double (16 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, four steals) and second-year guard Chelsea Dekleer, North Vancouver, BC, (11 points, one rebound, one assist, one steal). From the line the Blues shot 89% for the game with 75% in the first half and 100% in the second.
"Too many turnovers and being out-rebounded really hurt us," noted Eagles head coach Dan Nayebzadeh, "This game we started really good but we ran out of gas, particularly in offensive rebounds."
Scoring:
KPU: 6+10+9+18 = 43
CAP: 8+13+21+14 = 56
Rebounds:
KPU: 23+17=40/CAP: 32+25=56
The KPU Eagles starting line battles the Capilano University Blues
Game recap versus the Quest University Canada Kermodes
The Eagles gave the number-one PACWEST and CCAA ranked Quest University Canada Kermodes a battle in the first half, jeopardizing the Kermodes undefeated season. Focused and competitive, the Eagles had great shot selection and strong rebounds to go into the half with a one-point lead, 32-31. The Kermodes gained the upper hand in the third quarter with a nine-point advantage that grew to a 16-point decision after forty minutes, 71-51.
Khanna had another tremendous game for the KPU with 23 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and went 9/9 from the line. Third-year forward Amber Kavanagh, Langley, BC (10 points, five rebounds, four assists), fourth-year guard Christina Brown, Langley, BC (six points, three rebounds, one assist), and third-year guard Jessica Villadiego, Surrey, BC (five points, four assists, five steals) gave strong contributions while McPhail led the team in rebounds at eight. The Eagles shot 91% from the line in the first half and 73% in the second.
Quest’s fourth-year guard Shayna Cameron, Chilliwack, BC (18 points, four rebounds, six assists, one blocked shot, seven steals) had a productive game on both ends of the court as did third-year forward Miriam Baumann, Montreal, QC, who achieved a double-double (15 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, one blocked shot, four steals). From the line the Kermodes shot 88% for the game.
"We were much better from the line today, but overall we gave up little things towards the end," noted Coach Nayebzadeh, "We need to find a way to close out our games better."
Scoring:
KPU: 14+18+10+13 = 55
QST: 9+22+19+21 = 71
Rebounds:
KPU: 18+17=35/QST: 15+26=41
The Eagles play the CBC Bearcats in Abbotsford at 6:00pm on Friday, February 13th. KPU continues to play on the road for the month of February, for full schedule details, please visit: http://www.kpu.ca/athletics/teams/basketball-women/schedule-results1415
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.