Metro Vancouver…..The KPU Eagles women’s basketball team split the weekend as they fell 78-55 to Quest University Canada Kermodes and win 62-59 over Capilano University Blues at home in Surrey, BC. The Eagles record is now 2-10 in regular season PACWEST CCAA play. Next week’s games will bring the Langara College Falcons and the Douglas College Royals to the Nest.
Game recap versus the Quest University Canada Kermodes
During Friday’ nights game versus Quest, the Eagles had a challenging start to the game as the Kermodes went on an early 11-point run in the first quarter. KPU struggled to make their shots, but kept the gap under double-digits at the half to be down 35-28 to Quest.
“We were almost there. We could almost see it yesterday, but there was something missing,” said Eagles head coach Dan Nayebzadeh, “We struggled defensively and allowed a point a possession. We just couldn’t guard their offensive penetration.”
First-half leaders for the Eagles included second-year guard Shilpa Khanna, Surrey, BC (13 points, four rebounds, two assists, one blocked shot, one steal), fourth-year guard Christina Brown, Langley, BC (six points, two rebounds), and fifth-year post Samantha McPhail, Vancouver, BC (five points, four rebounds, one assist). KPU shot 60% from the line.
The Kermodes leaders included fourth-year guard Shayna Cameron, Chilliwack, BC (11 points, two rebounds, one assist), fifth-year guard Andrea Eidsvik, Burnaby, BC (five points, four rebounds), fourth-year forward Aimee Johnston, Brandon, MB (five points, two rebounds, one blocked shot), and third-year forward Miriam Baumann, Montreal, QC (five points, two rebounds, two assists).
The Kermodes opened the second-half on a 14-point run and continued to keep the Eagles at bay. At the final buzzer Quest won 78-55 over KPU. Eagles Khanna and McPhail continued to lead their team in points and rebounds, respectively. This past week Khanna was nationally-ranked 22nd in the CCAA in scoring (8 games played, 118 points, 14.75 average points/game) while McPhail was ranked 49th nationally in rebounds (8 games played, 52 rebounds, 6.5 average rebounds/game).
Khanna led the night for her team (18 points, six rebounds, three assists, one blocked shot, one steal), followed by Brown (12 points, three rebounds, one assist) and McPhail (10 points, 11 rebounds, two assists).
Kermodes’ leaders included Cameron (13 points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal), Frame (12 points, two rebounds, one assist, one steal), Johnston (11 points, four rebounds, one assist, one blocked shot), and first-year guard Shahed Aburegeba, Richmond, BC (11 points, one rebound, two assists, one steal).
Scoring:
KPU 16+12+ 7+20 = 55
QST 24+11+20+23 = 78
Total Rebounds:
KPU 21+16=38/QST 26+22=48
L to R: Eagles Kavanagh, McPhail, & Villadiego corner Blues Kapaiwai
Game recap versus the Capilano University Blues
Saturday night’s game saw a renewed Eagles team that showed confidence and determination from start to finish. An 8-2 Blues lead midway through the first quarter was consistently chipped away until the Eagles gained their first lead after 10 minutes, 17-16. The pace of the second quarter was set by KPU but Capilano was persistently on their heels. A seven-point run helped push the Eagles to a 32-28 lead at halftime.
“Tonight was brilliant. We have been emphasizing body language, believing in ourselves, putting the team before individual, and focusing on ball movement,” noted Coach Nayebzadeh.
The Eagles welcomed back Amber-Lee Kavanagh, Langley, BC from injury, and the third-year forward would lead the team at the half (eight points, one rebound, one steal), followed by Brown (seven points, three assists, one steal), and third-year guard Haeley Williams, Maple Ridge, BC (six points, one rebound, two assists, one blocked shot). KPU was flawless in their free throws in the first half, completing 3/3 for 100%.
At the half the Blues were led by second-year guard Chelsea Dekleer, North Vancouver, BC (14 points, three rebounds two assists, one blocked shot and two steals) and second-year forward Carmen M’Bikata, Abbotsford, BC (seven points, two rebounds, one assist, two blocked shots, one steal). Capilano shot 83% from the line.
In the second half KPU fought to keep the game close as the Blues outscored the Eagles in the third quarter to go into the fourth quarter with a 44-43 lead over the hosts. The lead would change hands nine times over the course of the game. After trading points back and forth in the waning seconds it came down to three successful foul shots by KPU to transform the tie into an Eagles win, 62-59.
Eagles' Khanna led the night (19 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots, two steals), followed by Kavanagh (12 points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal), McPhail (nine points, 10 rebounds, one assist), and Brown (nine points, one rebound, five assists, two steals). KPU shot 73% from the line in the second half for a game average of 79%.
Dekleer (17 points, four rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots, two steals) and M'Bikata (12 points, five rebounds, three blocked shots, one steal) remained leaders for the Blues. Capilano shot 55% from the line in the second half for a game average of 65%.
“We defended much better tonight, our offensive rebounds improved in the second half, and our team chemistry that has gotten better,” said Coach Nayebzadeh, “And so I think the biggest thing for us is to remember to play as a team. When we share the ball, share our successes, and have empathy for our failures we will be a great team.”
Scoring:
KPU 16+12+11+19 = 62
CAP 17+15+16+15 = 59
Total Rebounds:
KPU 19+24=43/CAP 22+15=37
The Eagles will spend the entire month of January at home in the Eagles' Nest, for full schedule, please visit http://www.kpu.ca/athletics/teams/basketball-women/schedule-results1415. The next game will be Friday, January 16th at 6:00pm versus the Quest University Canada Kermodes and then Saturday, January 17th 2015 at 6:00pm versus the Capilano University Blues.
The Eagles women's basketball team are proud to announce their second-annual Canadian Breast Cancer Awareness Night on Friday, January 30th 2015. The Eagles will host a silent auction and t-shirt sale starting at 5:30pm to raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation's BC & Yukon chapter. The event is cash-only and gate, silent auction, and shirt sales will be donated to Breast Cancer Research.
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.