COLLEGE DIVISION NOTEBOOK / MARTIN BECK : Records Aside, Chapman Expects Some Competition

Chapman College, which had one of the better nonconference records entering the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. season, plays host tonight to Cal State Los Angeles, which had the worst. But Chapman Coach Bob Boyd isn’t expecting a breather.

“Without falling into that category of ‘Oh God, we have no chance’ that some coaches get into,” Boyd isn’t feeling overconfident, either. Los Angeles has the players to compete with Chapman or any team in the conference, Boyd said.

Although Los Angeles (5-10, 0-2 in conference) is tied for last place in the conference, the Golden Eagles are a competitive team. They are led by Jemal Ross, a 6-foot-7 junior transfer from El Camino College who is averaging 12.5 points, and Kelvin Harris, a 6-5 junior who transferred from New Mexico State and is averaging 11.8.

Travelin’: After its game today against Los Angeles, Chapman (10-6, 0-1) will load its vans for a late-night trip to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The Panthers will play San Luis Obispo on Saturday night, and Boyd doesn’t want his team to be road weary the day of the game.

“I think it’s better to get the trip out of the way as soon as possible,” he said.

San Luis Obispo faces even more time on the road. The Mustangs (8-9, 0-2) play at Dominguez Hills today before returing home to play host to Chapman.

Add Chapman: When the Panthers lost their CCAA opener last Friday to defending champion Cal State Bakersfield, it was the first time Chapman had lost at home this season.

It was also one of Chapman’s worst shooting performances. The Panthers, ranked sixth in the nation in shooting percentage (53.7%), shot 43% against the Roadrunners.

Despite making just four of its first 18 shots, Chapman only trailed Bakersfield, 12-8, midway through the first half.

“We need to complete those spontaneous plays on offense,” Boyd said. “In that game against Bakersfield, we missed a lot of easy shots.

“I was very disappointed that our team wasn’t able to win that game. I think in the early stages, Bakersfield was ready to be beaten and we were unable to take advantage of it.”

Already short-handed, the Chapman women’s basketball team was dealt another setback last week when two of its top three scorers were declared academically ineligible for a minimum of six games.

Linda Kirby, who was leading the team in scoring with a 15.9 average, and Marvette Williams (15.1) are ineligible at least until Jan. 24, the day the school’s one-month winter term ends.

That means for at least the first four CCAA games, Chapman (8-8) will suit up only seven players.

It got so bad that last week--in the first game without Kirby and Williams--Chapman had only four players on the floor late in a loss to Grand Canyon.

The Panthers suited up six for the game, but Kim Rieff fouled out and Christine Carroll left the game after breaking her nose. Playing shorthanded, Chapman didn’t allow a basket and forced two turnovers, but lost, 82-78.

Last Friday against Western New Mexico, with six players suited up after the addition of Tammie McQuain--a 5-9 forward who transferred from Southern Utah State--Chapman led by as many 13 points in the first half before tiring and losing, 77-74.

Today, the Panthers open their CCAA season against Cal State Los Angeles at 5:45 p.m. in the Hutton Center. The men’s game is scheduled to start at 8:05 p.m.

With an 83-72 victory over Cal Baptist Tuesday, the Southern California College men’s basketball team extended its home winning streak to 19. The Vanguards’ most recent loss at home was Dec. 5, 1989, to Christian Heritage; they have won 37 of 38 in “The Pit,” the nickname for the SCC gym.

SCC (15-3, 2-1 in Golden State Athletic Conference) has moved to 27th place in the latest NAIA poll. Biola (15-5), at No. 23, is the only District 3 team in the top 25.

College Division Notes

Dave McLeish, the Southern California College men’s soccer coach, has been named the 1990 West region small college coach of the year by the National Soccer Coaches of America Assn. McLeish, who also coaches boys’ soccer at Dana Hills High School, led the Vanguards to a 5-13 record last season and is 28-63-3 in six seasons at SCC. . . . UC Riverside (14-2, 2-0 in the CCAA), ranked fourth in the Division II poll released this week, is the only conference team in the top 25, though Bakersfield was among the others receiving votes. . . . Three former athletes will be inducted into the Chapman Hall of Fame at a banquet Jan. 30 at the Doubletree Hotel in Anaheim. Kathy Copelin, an All-American softball player; Don Hurzeler, an All-American track athlete, and John Young, a baseball player, will be honored. Former USC and Tampa Bay Buccaneers football Coach John McKay will speak. Tickets are $75 per person. Proceeds will go to the Chapman athletic scholarship fund. For more information, call 977-6691.