SENIORS’ LAST PIT HURRAH
Keller, van der Keijl look to close out home careers with a win today over Wyoming in key battle
Kianna Keller and Richelle van der Keijl stand out on a basketball court — and pretty much everywhere else.
The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team’s two senior starters are also its two tallest players. Standing 6-foot-4 and 6-5, respectively, Keller and van der Keijl have gotten used to drawing stares and comments from shorter members of the human race.
“You get noticed anywhere when you’re this tall,” Keller said. “It’s actually not as bad on campus because there are men’s basketball players and other tall athletes around. But, yeah, in restaurants and airports, people always ask if we’re basketball players.”
Van der Keijl has gotten used to the attention, too.
“‘Wow, you’re so tall,’” she said with smile. “I’ve heard that
so many times, but you get used to it. At least we get noticed for something.”
Keller and van der Keijl will take center stage today when the Lobos (15-12, 10-6 Mountain West) host Wyoming (18-8, 10-5)
for a key Senior Day game at the Pit. The two posts have had vastly different Lobo careers but are playing critical roles in UNM’s late-season push for a postseason berth.
Keller has spent her entire fouryear career in cherry and silver and has developed into a defensive stopper. She ranks second on the team in minutes played this season and third in program history with 147 career blocks. Keller rarely shoots (averaging 2.0 points) but impacts games with her defense, hustle and rebounding. She needs 32 boards to reach 500 for her career.
Van der Keijl racks up plenty of blocks and rebounds, leading UNM in both categories this season. But the senior graduate transfer from Wright State also is a go-to scorer with 378 points. She forces opponents to adjust their defenses to stop her inside and needs 81 more points to reach 1,000 for her college career. Van der Keijl would love to help the Lobos make the postseason run that figures to be necessary for her to reach the scoring milestone.
“I feel like we can beat everyone (in the Mountain West),” van der Keijl said, “but we can probably lose to almost everyone, too. Winning the tournament will be hard but it’s definitely possible if we play our best.”
In an unusual twist, Keller and van der Keijl won’t be the only seniors in UNM colors today. Josie Greenwood, who left the program for family reasons in the fall, is expected to join the festivities after today’s game. The popular Greenwood, whose brother, Hugh, played men’s basketball at UNM, played three seasons with the Lobos. She returned to Australia, where her mother has been battling cancer, and planned to complete her degree through online courses.
Volleyball senior Devanne Sours also practiced with the Lobos on Friday and will be on the bench today. Sours filled in as a “emergency player” when junior Jayda Bovero was questionable because of illness last week. Sours is not expected to play or address the crowd, having already celebrated a senior day during volleyball season.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the two seniors who will start their final regular-season home game today.
Kianna Keller
Waukesha, Wis. First New Mexico impression: “I saw the mountains,” Keller said. “There are definitely none of
those in the Midwest and I didn’t know there were mountains so close to Albuquerque. I’ve been up there a few times and I love the view.”
Best Lobo memory: “Our games at the (MWC) tournament stand out. Our fans get fired up and the intensity is higher. It’s fun to be able to play at that level.”
Big game: Feb. 18, 2017 — 9 points, 11 rebounds, 40 minutes vs. Fresno State
Up next: Keller will pursue a master’s degree in sports administration at UNM. She hopes to go into sports psychology.
Richelle van der Keijl
Delft, the Netherlands First New Mexico impression: “There’s a lot of sand,” van der Keijl said with a laugh, “and it takes like two hours to see a city when you drive out of Albuquerque. Back home it’s just city after city after city, so that was different.” Best Lobo memory: “That first home game, when we were warming up and you see all the fans coming in, that was exciting. I’d never played for crowds like we have here. That’s been so much fun.” Big game: Feb. 4, 2017 — 31 points, 13 rebounds at San Jose State Up next: Van der Keijl hopes to play professionally in Europe. She plans to complete a master’s in sports administration this summer and work in marketing when her playing days conclude.