Box Score AZUSA, Calif. – On Saturday in the Felix Event Center, two of the most decorated athletes in program history were honored on Senior Day for their years of contributions to Azusa Pacific. Kelly Heimburger, the defending PacWest player of the year, defender of the year and a multi-All-PacWest performer alongside Amayah Kirkman, an All-PacWest honoree and one of the top three-point shooters in program history, had their final bow

The dynamic duo have been a staple piece of this program for the last five years, accumulating three PacWest regular season titles, three PacWest Tournament titles, and even advanced on a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight in their first year in the program. During that stretch, they have accumulated an overall record of 114-18 and 79-12 in PacWest play


Kelly Heimburger

Coming into Heimburger's first year in the program, Hardeman knew she would be a difference-maker. And when veteran starter Laura Pranger suffered an early season injury during Heimburger's first season, he saw her jump in and exceed all expectations.

Kelly Heimburger now enters her final post-season within the top-ten of several career accomplishments in school history. She is currently seventh on the all-time scoring list at Azusa Pacific with 1,754 career points and is fourth all-time with 676 made field goals. With 214 blocks, she is also second to Pranger as the only two Cougars with 200+ blocks. She also enters the last portion of her career with 770 rebounds, two shy of cracking the top-ten in program history.

Earlier this year, she put on a masterclass performance, scoring a career-high 39 points, while grabbing a season-high 11 rebounds, and blocking four shots in an 81-77 win over Hawaii Pacific. It was the fourth-most points scored by a Cougar in a single game and the most scored since 2007.

As a top scorer on several teams that she's led within the program, she currently averages a career-high 18.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game, each within the top-15 in their respective categories in the PacWest.

In leading the team and conference in scoring for the last two seasons, Heimburger has embraced the pressure and expectations of her.

"There's definitely pressure to an extent, mainly put on by myself," said Heimburger. "But I think it's also such a privilege to be a person that people expect good things out of. I am definitely grateful for the pressure and I'm trying not to take it for granted because who knows when you'll be in that position again."

With that same attitude, she also never pays much attention to the running list of accolades she has picked up as a Cougar. Instead, she has learned to embrace a leadership role as a captain of this team.

"Everything is bigger than me and what I'm doing. If I'm having a tough game, I have to know that people look to me and as a leader, I have to provide that emotional stability so that's been a huge focus on mine this season."

Amayah Kirkman

Growing up, playing college basketball had been a dream for Kirkman. On the morning of her final home game, she said she has spent thanking God for allowing her the opportunity to do so for so long.

Recently joining the 1,000 point club this season, Amayah Kirkman currently sits at 16th all-time in scoring at Azusa Pacific, with 1,300 career points.

Averaging just 1.5 points as a freshman while fighting for any minutes she could get on a competitive team, she now averages 15.7 points and has averaged 30+ minutes per game over the last two seasons. Additionally, the 5'8 guard has stepped into a starting role over the last two seasons, representative of her growth in this program.

"I knew I had the work ethic," said Kirkman. "I was shooting every day, watching film, asking questions, and trying to learn from all the better players before me. Then as the years went on, all the hard work starts to pay off and now I'm here because of the people that have helped me get there. And for that I can really say I'm proud of all that and the player I am now."

While playing alongside Heimburger for the last five seasons, Kirkman has been challenged to step up as a key contributor alongside her. As one of the top-ten leaders in scoring in the PacWest, she has put together six games with 20+ points, including a career-high 33 points vs. Westmont. That night, she shot 11-for-16 from the field, including 4-for-6 from the three.

"One of the things we like to see happen is when players grow," said Hardeman earlier this season. "She came in and learned from people like Alex Lowden, Paige Uyehara and now she's that leader so it's neat to see the whole team look up to her. She has stepped into that role, embraced it and just does a great job at getting everyone to contribute their best."

Kirkman has established herself as one of the best shooters in the conference and is among star-studded company in the Azusa Pacific record books. With 205 made threes over the last five seasons, she lands at fourth all-time. Last season, she led the PacWest with 73 triples en route to her first All-PacWest recognition.

Interestingly enough, she has scored a career-high five three-pointers against Biola every season for the last three years, including a game-winning triple in 2023 with five seconds to go. She also had five three-pointers against Chaminade as a sophomore.

This season, however, she worked with her coaches to become more dynamic as a player and contribute in more ways than just her shooting. For the last two seasons, she has averaged six or more rebounds a game and also is second on the team in assists and steals (both behind Audrey Sayoc), crediting her assistant coaches Dan Ploog and Chris Brand for their help in making her a more well-rounded player.

This mindset of constantly looking to learn and grow is something Kirkman has had since her freshman year as Coach Hardeman recalled several times that the young guard would come into his office with a notepad and pen, eager to look for ways to improve her game. And that work has paid off as she has not only become a key piece to this team's success but also in one whose hard work is now forever etched in the school record books.



When asked about what the duo wants to be remembered by, they both echoed the same sentiments: leading by example and fostering a specific culture within the program.

On embracing their roles as leaders this season, Hardeman shared his sentiments of how proud he is of the two and the way they've gone out to foster, coach, and help the younger players not just in basketball but life as well.

Heimburger: "We've really tried to make it clear that the culture of this program is and the intensity and dedication it takes. So that's been the biggest thing, just trying to pass it down through example but also in talking with the girls. I try as much as I can to explain how I see things, especially for people in my position and with the amount of experience."

Kirkman: "We've focused on upholding high standards, making sure practices are high intensity and that we're always talking and encouraging each other. It's not competition with each other but we all work together to be better and we want to keep that going."

After seeing what it takes to advance to an Elite Eight as a freshman, they have held the same standards and expectations for their teammates, with hopes of lifting that West Region Championship trophy once more in their final seasons.

After completing their regular season with a 22-5 overall record, including 16-4 in PacWest action, the team prepares for the postseason ahead.

"I just thank God that there's more great memories for them and for me," said Hardeman ahead of the Senior Day celebrations. "We won't all be together but it's been neat for our past five years to be together. It's been amazing and I'm so excited to see what the next five years down the road will hold for them."