IRVINE, Calif. - In the rematch of their January 4th overtime loss with Academy of Art University, the Concordia University Irvine women's basketball team got their revenge, handing the Urban Knights their worst loss of the season, 95-61.

"It was very important for us to get back on a win streak!" said junior forward Michaela VanderKlugt.  "That momentum drives us!"

From the tip the two teams practically traded baskets for the entire first quarter.  The Urban Knights shot a blistering 66% from the floor and drained four three's. The Eagles did their best to keep pace as they shot 61.5% from the floor and hitting two shots from behind the three point line. 

"I think that if you look at us from start to finish or start to where we are now you see great growth within our program," said head coach Christine Collins-Kiernan.  "Even if you take the first time we played them to tonight's game, we have come a long way as a team. They are a very talented team and have a great amount of offensive weapons who shoot the ball incredibly well from the three-point line.  We had to adjust after the first quarter, realign our mindset, and dig down and get the job done." 

The Urban Knights found themselves up 24-20 after the first quarter but ultimately were not ready for the defensive grit the Eagles brought with them the rest of the game.

Over the next two quarters the Urban Knights managed just 18 points, shooting 20% and going a measly 2-17 from three point land.  

"In the beginning of the game we struggled to match up against shooters when they got out in transition," said junior forward Kennedy Fulcher.  "In the second and third quarters we were able to communicate a lot better as a team, limiting their fast break points."

Credit the Eagles, who held the Urban Knights to just seven offensive rebounds while winning the overall rebound battle 55-22, with 18 of those being offensive rebounds.

"There's no coincidence that we played really good defense tonight and we rebounded the heck out of the ball, resulting in a win," said Collins-Kiernan.  I also think our togetherness and synergy is apparent reflected by the energy on the floor and the bench, as well as in the assist to basket ratio. We got contributions from everyone who played tonight and that is what you should be driving towards when building a program."

Led by VanderKlugt, the third quarter was where the Eagles opened up the game and pulled away, outscoring the Urban Knights 31-7.  

VanderKlugt finished the game with a career high 36 points, shooting 66.6% from the floor.  She added seven rebounds and a strong defensive presence, which is something that will not show up in the box score.  

"I just think I have good match ups," said VanderKlugt.  "They really don't have a legit big who can guard Kennedy or me.  I took advantage of the ball movements and found scoring opportunities.  We also got out in transition and it really worked for us!"

Joining VanderKlugt in double figures were Fulcher and sophomore guards Katie Timmerman and Jasmine Rachal.

Timmerman had a coming out game of sorts, as she has been in a scoring drought for much of the new year.  She went a perfect 6-6 from the floor (4-4 from three) and 4-4 from the free throw line to give her a career high 20 points.  Timmerman also grabbed seven boards and added two assists while playing a team high 35 minutes.  

"I remembered this quote that talked about the law of averages and how if you're going through a stretch of misses, the makes will come and balance out in the future," said Timmerman.  "I knew I was better than what I was doing in the previous games so I came into today with a lot more confidence knowing it only took one shot to get me going."  

She went on to say, "My teammates kept me up too and made some really great kickouts.  The posts had a huge presence inside today which opened up the perimeter and the other guards did great at creating opportunities.  It was definitely a great team effort to be able to do what we did tonight."

Fulcher recorded yet another double-double, as she dropped 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.  She rounded out her stat line with two assists and two blocks.

Rachal, playing with grit and perseverance, poured in 11 points, grabbed two rebounds, doled out one assist, and came up with one steal.

Throughout the game it was clear that the Eagles had only one thing on their mind, and that was to win.  It did not matter who got in the game (the Eagles cleared their bench), every single player was locked in.  

The Eagles are back in action on Thursday as they travel to old GSAC rival Biola.

For the full CUI women's basketball schedule click here.