Metro Vancouver…..The KPU Eagles women’s basketball team add two regular season wins on the road over the Douglas College Royals, 52-48, and the Langara College Falcons, 64-53, to close out the 2014/15 PACWEST regular season at 7-14. The Eagles are in sixth place in regular season conference standings and advance to the 2015 PACWEST basketball Provincials March 5-7th in Abbotsford, BC, hosted by the CBC Bearcats. KPU will take on Douglas College at 1:00pm on Thursday, March 5th at Columbia Place on the CBC campus.
Game recap versus the Douglas College Royals, season series 2-1 for DC
After trailing the Royals 23-18 at the half, the Eagles put forth a strong third quarter to which ultimately changed the trajectory of the game. Aggressive rebounding and an improvement on shooting accuracy gave KPU’s offense the edge, while their defense limited the Royals to nine points. The fourth quarter saw Douglas struggle to regain their momentum, as they forced multiple fouls in the waning minutes and dropped their shooting percentage. The Eagles came out with the win 52-48, after two losses to the Royals earlier in the season, 61-46 and 57-50.
Recognition for KPU goes to fifth-year post Samantha McPhail, Vancouver, BC who pulled in her first of two double-doubles on the weekend with 16 points, 10 rebounds, two steals. Second-year guard Shilpa Khanna, Surrey, BC (10 points, four rebounds, three assists, one blocked shot, three steals) gave an excellent performance, as did third-year guard Jessica Villadiego, Surrey, BC (photo, inset) as she went 5/6 at the line in the final minute of the game. The Eagles pulled down 34 boards and shot 77% on their free throws.
Leaders for the Douglas College Royals included first-year forward Rachel Beauchamp, Surrey, BC (10 points, three rebounds, one steal) and third-year forward Nanaya Miki, Japan (10 points, three rebounds, two assists). The Royals shot 64% from the line and pulled down 47 team rebounds.
Scoring:
KPU: 8+10+15+19=52
DC: 7+16+ 9+16=48
Rebounds:
KPU: 15+19=34/DC: 27+20=47
KPU Eagles Kavanagh drives to the hoop against Douglas
Game recap versus the Langara College Falcons, season series 2-1 for KPU
A two-point deficit to the Falcons in the first quarter grew to six by the half, 24-18, as the Eagles struggled with their three-point shots (0/4) and field goals (8/32). KPU regrouped and found their momentum again in the third quarter, out-shooting Langara 18-17 to get within five points, 41-36, and then dominating the fourth quarter with 28 points to the Falcons 12. The KPU won their second of three season games over Langara 63-53, which brought the 2014/15 PACWEST regular season to a close on the road.
McPhail had a tremendous finish to her her regular season university athletics career with her second double-double in two games with 15 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, and one blocked shot. A PACWEST and CCAA leader in rebounds, McPhail has continually demonstrated her strengths and leadership skills with the Eagles and her contributions will be missed as she graduates from KPU this year. Third-year forward Amber-Lee Kavanagh, Langley, BC also had a strng night (16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one blocked shot, one steal), as did second-year guard Aliya Senghera, Surrey, BC (9 points, one rebound, two assists, three steals). KPU pulled down 42 team rebounds and shot 76% from the line.
Leaders for the Falcons included first-year forward Helen Wilson, Richmond, BC (11 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, one steal) and third-year guard Miranda Cuthbertson, Ladner, BC (11 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals). Langara had 50 team rebounds and shot 68% from the line.
Scoring:
KPU: 11+ 7+18+28=64
LAN: 9+15+17+12=53
Rebounds:
KPU: 24+18=42/LAN: 33+17=50
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.
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