FORMER CSU BAKERSFIELD WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STANDOUT CHRISTINE KEPENEKIAN INVITED TO ARMENIAN NATIONAL TEAM TRYOUT

Bakersfield News
April 16 2010
CA

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Former CSU Bakersfield women’s basketball
standout Christine Kepenekian has been invited to tryout for
the Armenia National Team prior to the FIBA’s European Div. C
Championship. Armenia will host the seven-team tournament which runs
from June 28 – July 3. Kepenekian was one of just three Americans to be
invited to Yerevan for the May 20 tryout. This marks the first season
that Armenia is inviting players from outside the country to try out.

"I am really excited to get the chance to play competitive basketball
again," said Kepenekian. "I’ve been to Armenia twice before to visit
my mom’s side of the family. This is a great experience that will
hopefully help me gain exposure to try and play on other professional
teams after the tournament. I miss playing at the collegiate level and
having the opportunity to play for the national team helps me continue
my basketball journey, even if it’s only for a short period of time."

Kepenekian hopes that making the team will help her gain
dual-citizenship which would classify her as a Boseman B player. With
the Boseman B status, Kepenekian would be easier to hire for European
professional teams to help continue her career.

"We are very excited that Christine Kepenekian accepted our invitation
to tryout for the Armenia National Team," said Hrachia Rostomyan,
President of the Basketball Federation of Armenia. "We are looking
forward to Christine’s arrival in the next couple of weeks."

As a Roadrunner, Kepenekian overcame injuries early in her career
to become one of CSUB’s all-time great players. She holds 16 top 10
career program records and nine top 10 individual season records. She
is No. 2 on the Roadrunners’ all-time leading rebounder lists (569)
and is one of just six players to surpass 1,000 career points (1,035).

During her senior season in 2008-09, Kepenekian led the ‘Runners to
a 19-10 record by averaging a team-best 16.9 points and 8.5 rebounds
per game, both career highs. She garnered second-team NCAA Division
I All-Independent honors.

"Christine was a great player for us and helped make our team better,"
said CSUB Head Coach Tim La Kose. "Any team she plays on will be
better with her on it because she works hard and competes. We wish
her the best of luck."