Metro Vancouver…..A third of the 2014/15 PACWEST CCAA basketball season now remains, and the KPU Eagles women’s basketball team’s battle for a post-season berth continues to heat up. The Eagles finished the weekend at home in Surrey, BC at eight points and a 4-10 record for sixth place in the PACWEST. This Friday’s loss to the VIU Mariners, 56-50, and Saturday’s 58-53 win over the Camosun College Chargers places KPU two points ahead of the now-seventh place CBC Bearcats. All PACWEST basketball programs play each other three times over the season, and with a 1-1 record with the Bearcats the Eagles are in a must-win situation when the teams meet for the final time on Friday, February 13th in Abbotsford, BC.
“I think we are really playing well as a team right now, playing for each other,” said Eagles head coach Dan Nayebzadeh, “We are celebrating each other’s successes and that’s a big thing.”
Second-year Eagles guard Shilpa Khanna, Surrey, BC and fifth-year post Samantha McPhail, Vancouver, BC continue to show they are perpetual leaders for not only KPU and the PACWEST, but also the CCAA. This past week’s national rankings boosted McPhail from 41st to 22nd in the country in rebounds (12 games, 105 rebounds, average 8.75 rebounds/game) while Khanna increased from 18th to tied at 17th place in scoring (12 games, 189 points, average 15.75 points/game).
Game recap versus the VIU Mariners
A tenacious Eagles team fought back from a second-quarter 20-point gap to end the night only six points back of the Mariners, 56-50.
Khanna (11 points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots, one steal), third-year forward Amber-Lee Kavanagh, Langley, BC (11 points, one rebound) McPhail, (10 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal) led for the Eagles, while the team shot 50% from the line in the first half and improved to 82% in the second.
Leaders for the Mariners were third-year forward Sienna Pollard, Aubern, WA, USA (13 points, two rebounds, three assists, three steals) and fourth-year guard Jamie MacFarlane, Prince George, BC (13 points, two rebounds, three assists, three steals). During the first half VIU shot 50% from the line, and 70% in the second.
“I thought we played quite well and stayed competitive. We were down by 20 at the half but really clawed back and caught up to five points at the end of the third quarter and then six at the end,” said Coach Nayebzadeh.
Scoring:
KPU: 6+10+14+20=50
VIU: 18+13+4+21=56
Rebounds:
KPU: 19+17=36/VIU: 21+21=42
The Eagles honoured fifth-year graduating senior #22 Samantha McPhail (and inset)
in her last home game on Saturday against the Chargers
Game recap versus the Camosun College Chargers
The fourth win of the season for the Eagles was similar to KPU’s victory two weeks ago over the Capilano Blues; persistent and consistent offensive gains to chip away a 10-point gap. An aggressive fourth-quarter push by the Eagles ran the Chargers into foul trouble in the waning minutes which gave the KPU squad the opportunity to add three final free throws to secure the victory, 58-53.
McPhail produced a tremendous final home game as an Eagle with another double-double on the season (12 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, one blocked shot, one steal). Khanna continued to dominate on offense (18 points, seven rebounds, two blocked shots, three steals), while fourth-year guard Christina Brown, Langley, BC also showed her strengths (10 points, three rebounds). KPU shot 64% in the first half and 60% in the second.
The Chargers were led by fourth-year guard Ella Goldschmid, Victoria, BC (12 points, four rebounds, four steals), first-year guard Haley Cabral, Victoria, BC (eight points, four rebounds, one assist, three steal), and first-year post Ali Cooper, Victoria, BC (eight points, one rebound, one assist, three steals). From the line, Camosun shot 83% in the first half and fell to 33% in the second.
“Today we were down, but we fought. We battled, came back from behind, and we hit some big shots at the end,” commented Coach Nayebzadeh, “Overall it was a team effort from not only our starters, but the bench as well so I’m pleased to that everyone stepped up.”
Scoring:
KPU: 7+19+11+21=58
CAM: 12+12+18+11=53
Rebounds:
KPU: 24+22=46/CAM: 20+23=43
The Eagles take to the road for the final month of regular season PACWEST CCAA action. First stop is North Vancouver, BC on Thursday, February 5th to take on the Capilano University Blues and then onto Squamish, BC on Saturday, February 7th where the Eagles will face the number-one PACWEST ranked Quest University Canada Kermodes. Both games tip off at 6:00pm.
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.