The first half between Concordia and the Academy of Art University Urban Knights was the tale of two quarters.  In the first quarter, both teams came out hot.  The Eagles were led once again by Michaela VanderKlugt, the defending PacWest Player of the Week.  All season, VanderKlugt has been a threat from both the inside and the outside.  In the first quarter against Art U, it was her outside game that was working.  She finished the first four-for-four from beyond the three point line and led the Eagles with 12 points. 

On the other end, the Art U offense was just as effective.  For the quarter, CUI shot 64.3 percent from the floor, but the Urban Knights were just behind them, shooting 60 percent for the quarter.  At the end of one, CUI led 26-19.

The second quarter was a different story.  Both teams cooled down, with each shooting just 33.3 percent from the floor.  The Eagles were able to extend their lead, however, and they did it by making nine trips to the free throw line in the second, making seven.  The star of the second quarter for the Eagles was Jasmine Rachal.  After scoring nine first quarter points, she exploded for 15 in the second quarter alone to finish the first half with a game high 24 points.  Towards the end of the second quarter, with the help of Rachal's offensive onslaught, the Eagles made a run to push their lead to double figures.  At halftime, CUI was on top 43-31.

In the third quarter, the Eagles put it together early.  After a quick run, they extended their lead to 18 midway through the quarter.  Though the rest of the quarter was choppy, with fouls and turnovers from each side halting the pace of play, the Eagles were in firm control at the end of three.  After nine more points in the third quarter, VanderKlugt had 23 total at the end of three.

The fourth quarter saw much of the same.  Both teams were plagued by turnovers, with the Eagles committing seven in the fourth themselves.  While the third quarter saw the Eagles take it to the Urban Knights, again shooting over 60 percent from the floor, it was from the free throw line that the Eagles flourished in the fourth, knocking in 10 of their 13 attempts in the final quarter alone.  After winning 77-62, the Eagles are now winners in six of their last eight games. 

"The key to our recent success has been their continued focus on growing as a group, understanding the game plan, and executing it consistently throughout the game," said head coach Christine Collins-Kiernan.

On the offensive end, two Eagles shined on Thursday night.  Jasmine Rachal finished with a career high 29 points, knocking in all four of her three point attempts and all nine of her free throws.  Vanderklugt was dominant, as well, hitting nine-of-16 from the floor and making a career high six three pointers. 

"Jasmine and Michaela are both understanding two things," coach Collins-Kiernan said.  "How well they shoot the ball and getting themselves in situations and spots on the floor to do it."

Their success is not without help from their teammates, however.  "Their teammates are doing a great job of elevating their skill and making it look easy for them," coach Collins-Kiernan pointed out.

The Eagles return to the court on Saturday, taking on the Dominican University of California Penguins at 5:30 PM.

To see the full Eagles schedule, click here