College Basketball Previews : CAL LUTHERAN : Chung Holds Regals’ Talent in High Regard

Those who follow Cal Lutheran women’s basketball have learned to be realistic in their expectations. A string of losing records will do that to you.

This season, however, optimism abounds.

Coach Norm Chung is talking about making the NAIA District III playoffs, something Cal Lutheran has done only once in his five years at the helm. The Regals qualified for postseason play in 1985-86 with a record of 14-13.

“Overall, this team has the best talent of any team we’ve ever fielded at this school,” Chung said. “I definitely see an improvement over last year.”

CLU was 10-17 last season, 5-3 and tied for second with Azusa Pacific in the Golden State Athletic Conference.

Four of Cal Lutheran’s top six players from last season are back, including senior point guard Judy Killpack, center Chris Cox and forwards Brenda Lee and Joy Fuller.

But Cal Lutheran is not as experienced as it might seem. Killpack and Roslyn Boatwright are the team’s only seniors, and Boatwright is out because of a knee injury for at least another week. Cox, Lee and Fuller are all sophomores.

The two players who completed their eligibility--Gloria Phillipps and Kim Peppi--accounted for about half of the Regal offense, however. Phillipps was the team’s leading scorer with an average of 16.3 points a game and Peppi is the school’s career scoring leader with 1,523 points.

Chung said a quick start is important to the team’s fortunes this season. Cal Lutheran opens the season against UC San Diego on Friday in a tournament at Redlands.

“Being such a young squad, we’re putting a lot of emphasis on the preseason games,” Chung said. “We have to focus on what we need to do this year.”

One task for CLU will be to stop Cal Baptist, a tough, new addition to the GSAC.

“I’m very confident about making the playoffs,” Chung said.