SPORTSCOPE : Claremont Tries to Get Rolling for Cal Lutheran

After winning its first game last week, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps football team will play host to winless Cal Lutheran in a nonconference game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Claremont.

That might sound like good news for Claremont, as Cal Lutheran is off to an 0-5 start. But most of Cal Lutheran’s defeats have been to NCAA Division II teams such as Santa Clara, St. Mary’s and Sonoma State. The Kingsmen lost, 34-13, to Santa Clara last week.

Claremont defeated Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival La Verne, 24-7, to improve to 1-3. Claremont has been led by junior running back Schon Branum, who had his best game of the season last week with 143 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 20 carries.

Other offensive leaders include quarterback Brian O’Brien, who has passed for 448 yards and a touchdown, and senior wide receiver Tim Bray, who has 19 catches for 268 yards and two touchdowns.

In another game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, La Verne will visit Whittier in a matchup of winless teams. Both are 0-4. La Verne has been outscored 97-47, and Whittier has been outscored 144-60.

Two other four-year schools from the San Gabriel Valley, Azusa Pacific (4-1) and Pomona-Pitzer (3-1), are idle this week.

It will be a battle for the early lead in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. when Cal Poly Pomona visits UC Riverside in a women’s volleyball match at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Riverside.

Pomona started the week ranked No. 3 in the NCAA Division II at 22-5 and 1-0 in the CCAA. Riverside was 8-3 and 1-0. It was ranked No. 2 in conference play.

Pomona, which has already won more games than last season, when it finished 16-18, has been led by sophomore outside hitter Alicia Burns and senior outside hitter Jody Fee.

Burns leads the Broncos in service aces and Fee is the leader in kills. Two other standouts for Pomona are senior middle blockers Linda Tschasar and Kim Schaeffer.

Pomona defeated 13th-ranked Chapman and Division III power UC San Diego last week.

The Azusa Pacific women’s cross-country team will be one of the favorites when the fifth annual Golden State Athletic Conference Championships are held Saturday at Bonelli Park in San Dimas.

The women will compete in a 5-K at 9 a.m. and the men in an 8-K at 9:45 a.m.

Azusa Pacific is led by junior Jenee Ellis, who figures to be challenged by Southern California College senior Sheri Hall.

Westmont is regarded as the favorite in the women’s division, although Azusa Pacific and Point Loma Nazarene are expected to challenge the Warriors. Defending champion Point Loma Nazarene is considered the top team in the men’s division.