Metro Vancouver…..The KPU Eagles women’s basketball team is now 3-9 as they defeated the Langara College Falcons 72-47 on Thursday and fell to the Douglas College Royals 50-57 on Saturday during regular season PACWEST/CCAA play at home in the Eagles Nest in Surrey, BC.. KPU plays each PACWEST team three times during the regular season with the 2015 records at 1-1 with the Falcons and 0-2 with the Royals. The Eagles spend one last weekend at home before spending the remainder of the season on the road.
“ The team is starting to gel and play together as a unit,” stated Eagles Head Coach Dan Nayebzadeh, “They are competing much harder now, and if we continue to focus on the process, we are going to be fine.”
Consistency on the court and a full, healthy bench has played a major role in giving KPU momentum over the past week. The return of key players to leadership roles on the court, as well as steady contributions from the starting line-up keep KPU competitive in the second third of the season. Two Eagles continue to maintain individual national rankings in the CCAA this past week. Second-year guard Shilpa Khanna, Surrey, BC is tied for 18th place in scoring (10 games, 155 points, average 15.6 points/game) and fifth-year post Samantha McPhail, Vancouver, BC is 41st in rebounding (10 games, 73 rebounds, average 7.3/game).
Game recap versus the Langara College Falcons
In Thursday’s game, the Eagles came out strong in the first quarter of their second game of the season versus the Falcons. After quickly building up an eight-point lead, KPU controlled the pace of the game with a strong running game, careful shots, and pulling down crucial boards. At the half the Eagles had the lead, 36-22.
After 20 minutes KPU’s leaders included Khanna (11 points, two rebounds, three assists), McPhail (nine points, 13 rebounds, three assists, one blocked shot, one steal), and third-year guard Haeley Wiliams, Maple Ridge, BC (six points, six rebounds, one steal). The Eagles shot 54% from the line.
Langara’s leaders at the half included first-year guard Courtney Nicholls, South Surrey, BC (10 points, two rebounds, four steals), third-year guard Miranda Cuthbertson, Ladner, BC (four points, five rebounds, one blocked shot, one assist), and first-year guard Jasmine Manhas, Burnaby, BC (three points, seven rebounds, three steals). The Falcons shot 43% from the line.
The second half saw improvement in KPU’s three-point and field goal accuracy, but overall the Eagles out-rebounded the Falcons and were able to consistently build up their lead over four quarters. The final buzzer gave the Eagles their second-consecutive win of the season by a score of 72-47.
Khanna ended the night as KPU’s top scorer (22 points, four rebounds, five assists, one blocked shot) while McPhail dominated in rebounds (18 points, 20 rebounds, five assists, two blocked shots, one steal). McPhail earned a double-double, as did Williams (12 points, 11 rebounds, two steals). Fourth-year guard Christina Brown, Langley, BC contributed on both sides of the court (10 points, five rebounds, five assists), as did third-year forward Amber-Lee Kavanagh, Langley, BC (four points, nine rebounds, two steals). The Eagles shot 67% in the second half for a game average of 59%.
Falcon’s Nicholls (13 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, five steals), Cuthbertson (13 points, 11 rebounds, one blocked shot, one steal), and Manhas (five points, 11 rebounds, three assists, four steals) remained leaders for their team at the end of the night. Langara shot 50% from the line in the second half for an average of 47% on the game.
KPU 17+19+19+17 = 72
LAN 9+13+14+11 = 47
Total Rebounds:
KPU 33+27=60/LAN 24+24=48
(L to R in Crimson) Eagles Shilpa Khanna & Jessica Villadiego defend against the Royals
Game recap versus the Douglas College Royals
A first-quarter tie at 14 and a halftime differential of two points saw the Eagles and Royals fighting for each basket and possession. The Eagles out-rebounded and out-shot the Royals from the line, but struggled with field goals and three-point shots. KPU went into halftime trailing Douglas 25-23.
The Eagles were led at the half by Kavanagh (8 points, five rebounds, one assist), McPhail (five points, nine rebounds, one assist) and Khanna (five points, four rebounds, one steal). KPU shot 83% from the line.
Halftime leaders for the Royals included third-year forward Nanaya Miki, Japan (six points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals), first-year forward Rachel Beauchamp, Surrey, BC (four points, five rebounds), and second-year post Sarah Jorgenson, Calgary, AB (four points, four rebounds, one blocked shot, one steal). Douglas shot 56& from the line.
A rough third quarter saw KPU’s two-point deficit expand as the Royals out-shot the Eagles 22-13 to go into the fourth quarter with an 11-point lead. KPU fought back but ended the game at 57-50 in favour of Douglas College.
Overall game leaders for the Eagles were Khanna (12 points, four rebounds, two assists, one blocked shot, three steals), Kavanagh (10 points, six rebounds, one assist, one steal), third-year guard Jessica Villadiego, Surrey, BC. (nine points, two rebounds, three assists), and McPhail (eight points, 12 rebounds, one assist, three steals). KPU shot 56% in the second half from the line for a game average of 68%.
After 40 minutes the Royals were led by Beauchamp (14 points, six rebounds, one assist), Miki (nine points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals), and third-year forward Chloe Kennedy, Summerland, BC (nine points, two rebounds, one assist). Douglas shot 86% from the line in the second half for a game average of 69%.
Scoring:
KPU 14+ 9+13+14 = 50
DC 14+11+22+10= 57
Total Rebounds:
KPU 26+13=39/DC 15+19=34
The Eagles have two home games left before spending the rest of the season on the road. For full schedule, please visit http://www.kpu.ca/athletics/teams/basketball-women/schedule-results1415.
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.
The last home game at the Eagles Nest will be on Saturday, January 31st 2015 versus the VIU Mariners. The Eagles will honour their women & men’s basketball graduating seniors Samantha McPhail and James Bradshaw. Celebrations will occur before the Eagles tip off at 1:00pm for the women and 3:00pm for the men.
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.