Women: What Panther guards lack in height, they more than make up for in talent.

When the three starting guards on the Chapman women’s basketball team take the court, one thing is virtually certain: They won’t be looking down at anyone.

Chapman might have the shortest guards in the nation--Courtney Kanegae is 5-2, Melissa Lopez is 5-3 and Flo Luppani is said to be 5-6. “We list Flo at 5-6,” Chapman Coach Mary Hegarty said, “but I think that’s a stretch.”

However, Hegarty isn’t exaggerating when she talks about what she expects from this diminutive threesome. They will present problems for opponents, despite their size.

“The other teams might be salivating a little,” Hegarty said. “But hopefully they will be getting tired quickly trying to run up and down the court against them.”

Luppani, a senior now fully recovered from knee surgery that slowed her last season, is the point guard. She set a single-season school record for three-pointers with 54 last season.

Kanegae, a junior transfer from Division I Oregon, is another three-point threat. Hegarty says she has NBA range.

Lopez, a freshman from Glendora St. Lucy’s, has aggressive finishing abilities to go with a good outside shot.

Chapman, 13-11 last season, needed one more victory to advance but lost its final three games.

Hegarty says the best recruiting class in her four seasons at Chapman gives her the flexibility and depth her teams had previously lacked. If the Panthers’ short lineup is having problems, for instance, Hegarty can use Lindsay Foss, a 5-11 freshman from Esperanza, and Maureen Fox, a 5-10 senior.

The starting lineup is filled out with Lyndsay Brown, a 5-10 sophomore, and Stephanie McNamara, a 5-10 senior.

A look at the other local small college teams:

Concordia

1995-96: 24-8, 9-3 in the Golden State Athletic Conference

The Eagles also have high expectations, largely because many of the players from last season’s team that finished in a tie for second in the conference are back.

Angela Sather, the conference player of the year who averaged 18.9 points and 7.9 rebounds, is only the tip of the iceberg. Jaime Gast (5-8 sophomore guard), Heather Carll (6-3 junior center), Audre Moss (6-0 junior forward), Kristin Weddick (5-8 junior forward) and Dinah Shah (5-2 sophomore guard) all started at least 15 games last season.

New additions Priscilla Bendik, a 5-9 freshman forward who was all-state in Wisconsin, Angela Good, a 5-10 junior forward who helped Solano College to the state community college semifinals, and Allison Fortner, a 5-9 sophomore guard who transferred from College of Southern Idaho, have quickly blended into the team.

Pacific Christian

1995-96: 6-11, 2-4 in the California Coastal Conference

Last season was a huge turnaround for the Royals. Second-year Coach Kelly Martinez has been able to recruit seriously for the first time and her efforts have been helped by the fact the college now offers some athletic scholarships.

Nicole Kubota, a 5-8 transfer from Fullerton College, is the Royals’ top player. Adrienne Penn, a 5-10 freshman center from St. Augustine, Fla., Kerry Massey, a freshman guard from San Pedro, and Susanne Gras, a junior guard who transferred from Mt. San Antonio, currently join Kubota and Becky Snavely, the only returning starter, in the lineup.

SCC

1995-96: 10-20, 2-10 in the Golden State Athletic Conference

Losing Alisha Blomker, a two-year starter at point guard who will miss the season with a broken leg, is a blow to Southern California College. The Vanguards struggled last season, but first-year Coach Russ Davis is confident things will go better in 1996-97.

Davis says 6-0 junior centers Elaine Whittemore and Gina Jojola should be among the best post players in the conference. Senior guard Carrie Burt have moved to the point from off guard. Sophomore guard Alana Kempton is a three-point threat.