COLLEGE DIVISION NOTEBOOK / MARTIN BECK : CCI Women Having Their Day in the Sun

Once a perennial NAIA District 3 doormat, the Christ College Irvine women’s basketball team proved it was a program of substance by advancing to the national championship tournament last season.

But there may be no greater indication of how far the Eagles have come than their recent success against Fresno Pacific, long-time District 3 power.

When Christ College beat Fresno Pacific, 51-48, Tuesday in a Golden State Athletic Conference game at Irvine, it was the Eagles’ fourth consecutive victory over the Sunbirds. The streak started with the final game of last year’s regular season, a 70-69 victory that was the Eagles’ first over Fresno.

On a roll, the Eagles beat Fresno, 85-64, in the District 3 title game, before losing in the first round of the NAIA championships in Jackson, Tenn.

Early this season, the teams met in a tournament at Western New Mexico and the Eagles won, 51-50.

CCI Coach Kent Schlichtemeier says there’s a reason for his team’s success against Fresno Pacific.

“I can’t speak for Fresno, but from my perspective the difference has been the way our team works together,” Schlichtemeier said. “In close situations, they pull together as a family.

“They’re willing to make sacrifices for the good of the team. That’s what you need in crunch situations.”

Stealing it: In Tuesday’s game, Fresno Pacific had possession out of bounds at midcourt, trailing by two points with nine seconds left. But CCI guard Stacy Kirch eventually stole the ball and was fouled.

She made one of two free throws with four seconds remaining and the Sunbirds weren’t able to get the ball up court for a shot.

Kirch, a senior from Denver, scored a team-high 15 points in the game. In three victories last week, Kirch averaged 16.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 4.3 steals and was named the District 3 player of the week.

Schlichtemeier said his team hasn’t reached its peak offensively, but that it’s winning games with defense.

Genevieve Graff is the defensive specialist, usually guarding the opponent’s best offensive player. Tuesday, Graff took on Fresno Pacific’s Erica John, a 6-foot forward who entered the game as the district’s leading scorer with an 18.1 average.

Graff, a 5-6 guard, held John to seven points--none in the first half.

Last add Eagles: CCI (13-4, 2-0 in conference) will play at Point Loma Nazarene (8-9, 0-1) at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The Eagles have never beaten Point Loma on the road.

The Chapman women’s basketball team opens its California Collegiate Athletic Assn. season with a game against Cal State Dominguez Hills at 7:30 tonight at the Hutton Center.

The Panthers (2-10) began the season by losing their first nine games. Dominguez Hills was 7-5 in nonconference games. Saturday, the Panthers will play at UC Riverside (8-6).

After breaking a five-game conference losing streak with a 107-88 victory over Cal Poly Pomona Saturday, the Chapman men’s team will go on the road Friday and Saturday.

Friday, the Panthers (4-10, 1-1) play at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (6-8, 0-2). Chapman hasn’t beaten the Mustangs since January, 1990. Saturday, Chapman plays Cal State Bakersfield (14-0, 2-0), which is the top-ranked team in NCAA Division II.

Chapman hasn’t beaten the Roadrunners since February, 1989.

Notes

Three Southern California College men’s soccer players were named NAIA All-Americans. Greg Olson, a senior defender from Santa Cruz, was a third-team selection. Receiving honorable mention honors were Migel LaMotte, a senior goalkeeper from San Clemente High, and Carlos Miramontes, a senior forward from Sunny Hills High. . . . Chapman’s Jeff Gardner, a 6-3 forward, leads the CCAA in rebounding (7.8) and is fourth in scoring (18.9). Rod Summers and Vern Broadnax are second and third in the conference, respectively, in free-throw shooting percentage. Summers has made 39 of 45 (86.7%); Broadnax is 24 for 28 (.857). . . . Entering Tuesday’s game, CCI’s Genevieve Graff led the NAIA District 3 in free-throw percentage at 91.7% (33 for 36). Teammate Stacy Kirch led in assists (7.6). . . . SCC’s Mike West leads the district in rebounding with 10.9 per game. Prior to the Vanguards’ 111-109 loss to ninth-ranked Azusa Pacific Tuesday, point guard Danin Bryant led in assists (7.3). . . . Before the CCI men’s 71-66 victory over Fresno Pacific Tuesday, the Eagles’ Brian Hazelwood led the district in field-goal shooting percentage (67.7%), making 42 of 62 shots.