The Douglas Royals managed revenge for last weekend’s regular season loss to the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Eagles today (Thursday), squeaking through the first game of the 2015 PACWEST women's basketball championships with a 66-58 overtime victory.
The Royals and the Eagles have met several times this year, and the rivalry has gained momentum with each intense, but historically low-scoring, clash.
Kwantlen built an early lead before seeing their advantage melt away under a withering storm of three-pointers from Royals’ sharpshooter Simran Bir.
The two teams finished the first quarter tied 16-16, and entered halftime separated by only a point.
PACWEST second team all-star Samantha McPhail led the Eagles from the paint to finish with 19 points and 11 boards, including a critical three-point play with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
McPhail’s heroics put her squad up 53-52, but it was the exploits of PACWEST second team all-star Chloe Kennedy that subsequently stole the show.
The Royals’ Kennedy fought her way to the line and tied the game up with a free throw, before exploding for another 10 points in overtime, including three treys, to secure the win. Kennedy finished with a ga,e-high 21 points and four assists.
“We just hit shots,” said Douglas coach Courtney Gerwing. “Last time we played them, we were terrible from the three. (Today) we hit a few early ones, which changed the tempo for us, and then Chloe hit three in overtime. That was it.”
“It’s nice to get the first game out of the way,” Gerwing added. “I would prefer to have the first game even though it’s risky, if you lose you’re done. But now we’ve got the jitters out, we’ll come tomorrow prepared to play.”
Douglas will play the No. 2 Vancouver Island University Mariners in tomorrow’s semifinal at 1 p.m.
Players of the game:
KPU Eagles : Samantha McPhail
Douglas Royals: Chloe Kennedy
