HONOLULU, Hawai'i - Looking to win five in a row in the PacWest for the second time in program history, the Concordia University Irvine women's basketball team took on Chaminade University in a Saturday matinee. After a close first half, the Eagles took care of business on the defensive end en route to a 73-38 win over the Silverswords.
Head coach Christine Collins-Kiernan knew how important this game was for their season and expected her team to rise to the challenge.
"This group continues to amaze me," said Collins-Kiernan. "They have bought in. They trust each other. They want to be coached by us and each other, and they are willing to fail everyday to get better in long run. We were struggling to find wins at this point last year so I am happy for them to fight to represent themselves positively to allow the hard work they put in everyday show. We have key players under the weather and a little beat up but the bench has stepped up and so have other starters."
The Silverswords were able to grab an early two-point lead but the Eagles had their legs under them right from the start and quickly turned that two-point deficit into an eight-point advantage.
While the Silverswords were able to keep the game close most of the first half the Eagles stretched their lead to 12 heading into halftime.
The story of the first half was sharing the basketball as the Eagles had eight assists on 11 made baskets.
The Eagles also controlled the boards, outrebounding the Silverswords 20-15 (40-22 for the game), with seven of those coming on the offensive end.
The third quarter is where the Eagles really started to stretch the game open. Defensively they only gave up six points while on offense they scored 20, taking a 52-26 lead into the fourth and final quarter.
"We preach ALL THE LITTLE THINGS in our program and honestly in the first half we were not finishing defensive plays," said Collins-Kiernan. "We were not communicating like we are accustomed and the staff called them out on that. They listened, allowing themselves to be coached and made adjustments in the second half."
This was a trap game and the Eagles knew they had to take care of business and not look ahead to Monday's marquee matchup with Hawai'i Pacific University.
"I thought that we played really well together as a team, moving the ball well to find good shots," said junior guard Jennie Kwok. "Everyone played within their role allowing us to execute the game plan. This was a big team win. Everyone had great energy, hyping each other up which is fun and what makes us, us."
Junior forward Kennedy Fulcher was one of three Eagles in double figures with 15 points. She added four rebounds, two assists, and a season-high three steals.
Freshman forward Savannah Felix-Amoroso had another massive game off the bench. She finished with 14 points on 5-for-5 shooting (1-1 from behind the arc), 3-for-4 from the charity stripe, and five rebounds (two on the offensive end).
Junior forward Michaela VanderKlugt joined Rachal and Felix-Amoroso in double figures with 17 points to go along with four rebounds and four assists.
"I'm so happy and proud of our team today," said freshman guard Sierra Clark. "We started off a little slow in the first half but we regrouped and came together at halftime, making the right adjustments in the second half. We played with energy, together as a team, and got the job done one through ten."
The Eagles take on the first-place Sharks on Monday with a chance to give them their first lost in the PacWest this season.
For the full CUI women's basketball schedule, click here.
