COLLEGE DIVISION BASKETBALL PREVIEW : Chapman, Christ College Irvine Are Turning Programs Around : Women: Panthers put end to in-team fighting. They also beef up roster, adding sorely needed depth.

Chapman University basketball Coach Lindsay Strothers has learned from the mistakes of a lost season.

And make no mistake, it was bad. Worse even than the Panthers’ 11-15 record and second-to-last-place finish in the California Collegiate Assn. would seem to indicate.

It was Strothers’ worst coaching nightmare--a team of talented players whom he couldn’t get to play together--and it had him seriously thinking about quitting the profession.

He had started out with a small group. Largely because of Strothers’ recruiting inexperience, Chapman had only seven players available for the first game. Although the team eventually comprised nine players, the lack of depth proved disastrous.

At one point in the season, because of injuries and players who were academically ineligible, the Panthers had to finish a game with four players.

“It was a frustrating season because we had so much talent,” Strothers said. “Even though we didn’t have a lot of players, we may have had the most talent in the conference.”

It didn’t help that starters Linda Kirby and Marvette Williams were declared academically ineligible in January. But most maddening for Strothers was the acrimony among his players. In its worst moments, the players were holding grudges and not passing to certain teammates.

Things look better this season although three-year starter Jackie Saunders, who averaged 16 points and a conference-high 11 rebounds, and Jennifer Ballenger, who averaged 12 points and six assists, have used up their eligibility. Strothers, who decided not to quit after a satisfying summer coaching youth basketball, recruited well, restocking the roster with 12 new players. Two are red-shirting, so including the five returning players, Strothers has 15 players available for the opener Friday against St. Thomas in the Doubletree Tournament at Chapman.

“At least we’ll never have to play with four again,” Strothers said.

Most of the recruits--including Deanna Harry, a 6-foot-2 center from Woodbridge High, Talia Crooks, a guard from Edison, and Melody Earle, a guard from Estancia--will fill backup roles. The starting lineup appears set.

Kirby, who averaged 20 points despite missing seven games because of academics, returns at point guard for her senior season. Williams, a 5-10 center who averaged 14 points and seven rebounds while missing four games, also is a key player.

Missy Abraham, a returning starter, will play off-guard. Julie King, who sat out last season because of an injury, will play small forward, and Tammie McQuain, who came off the bench last season, will also play forward.

It’s a short starting lineup--no one is taller than Williams at 5-10, but Strothers hopes to make up for that with a fast-breaking offense and aggressive defense.

“We’re really small but hopefully the pressure defense will cover for us,” Strothers said. “Make them make the perfect pass, make the perfect shot.”

CHRIST COLLEGE IRVINE

1990-91 Record: 21-7, 7-3 in Golden West Athletic Conference.

Conference finish: Second place (tie).

Last season was one of firsts for the Eagles, who after five seasons of NAIA futility, finally finished with a winning record. Christ College finished 7-22 and 4-23 in the seasons before its breakthrough, during which it qualified for the NAIA District 3 playoffs for the first time and advanced to the semifinals before losing to Fresno Pacific.

“Our goal last year was to make the playoffs and we got there,” CCI Coach Kent Schlichtemeier said. “This year, our goal is to win the district title.”

The title may be within reach. All of the starters return, including first-team all-district players Gitte Mejer, a 6-2 center who led the team with 13 points and seven rebounds, Genevieve Graff and Stacy Kirch. Senior forwards Nancy Geisler, who averaged almost 12 points, and Lauren Rich round out the lineup.

The Eagles, who open the season Nov. 26 at Redlands, also have 6-0 forward Kaisa Kepsu, a freshman from Espoo, Finland. Kepsu played for the Finnish junior national team.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLEGE

1990-91 Record: 13-17, 2-8 in Golden West Athletic Conference.

Conference finish: Fifth.

The Vanguards were plagued by three season-ending injuries to starters last year and they never recovered. But the spirits of third-year Coach Dave Smith are up again.

Jamie Zitterkopf, a 6-0 center, has transferred from Idaho State, and 6-1 Coral Ogren, who sat out last season with a knee injury, will be her backup. Kristen Bevis, an All-District 3 selection, returns at off-guard, and four-year starter Lori Halliday will play point guard until Darnell Good becomes academically eligible Dec. 20.

Smith got an unexpected recruiting boon when Rachel Ward, a Costa Mesa High standout who signed a letter of intent with Cal State Northridge, decided to join the Vanguards.

Ward, who had been a projected starter for Division I Northridge, decided at the last minute to enroll at SCC.

Smith says the Vanguards have four legitimate Division I players on their roster.

“If you can get one or two of them in your program, your program can start to take off,” Smith said. “And I think we’re on the verge of that.”

The Vanguards open the season Saturday at home against Loyola Marymount.

PACIFIC CHRISTIAN

1990-91 Record: 18-16, 9-0 in the California Coastal Conference.

Conference finish: First.

PCC Coach Kelly Kappen had thought this might be the season the Royals, who finished third in the National Christian College Athletic Assn. Division II national tournament, took a step up. But that was before his two 6-1 centers left the team.

Gina Atkins, an NCCAA All-American, left the school, and Joan Vandevoort decided basketball was interfering with her work. Their departure leaves Kappen without a player taller than 6 feet.

“I was thinking that we were going to win the national title at our level,” Kappen said. “We still might do well, though, if the team comes around, but losing those two hurt.”

Who’s left are such players as Donna Allen, a 5-8 forward who was an NCCAA All-American last season, and Kandee Almond, a sophomore point guard who made the NCCAA all-tournament team.