Chapman Regains Momentum With Tournament Victory
After consecutive losses to Wisconsin Oshkosh and Viterbo (Wis.), Chapman rebounded to win the UC San Diego tournament this week.
Sophomore Stephanie Flaxbeard started for the first time at Chapman and sparked the Panthers to first- and second-round victories over Manchester (Ind.) and Southern Maine, averaging 17 points and 12 rebounds.
“She was the MVP for those first two games,” Coach Mary Hegarty said.
But Lyndsay Brown was named the tournament MVP, bringing the Panthers (8-2) home with an 18-point, nine-rebound performance in Tuesday’s 62-59 victory over UC San Diego (7-3) in the final.
Courtney Kanegae, who also earned all-tournament honors, delivered the biggest shot Tuesday. Her three-pointer in the final minute gave Chapman a two-point lead it never relinquished. She finished with 13 points and five assists.
And the Panthers also got key contributions from Elizabeth Zanolli, who averaged eight assists, and Melissa Lopez, who averaged 14 points, in the tournament.
“The team really responded after those tough losses,” Hegarty said. “We’re playing better and I can see a lot of growth.”
The Panthers host Whitman (Wash.) today and Claremont Wednesday, both games at 7:30 p.m.
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Home hoops: Southern California College will host the SCC Classic women’s tournament this weekend with three games each day. SCC (9-4), which has won six of its last seven with Elaine Whittemore (16 points, nine rebounds) leading the way, will play Concordia (Mich.) at 7:30 p.m. tonight, then Evangel (Mo.) Saturday at 5:45 p.m.
The SCC men also are hot, averaging 90 points in winning seven of the last eight. SCC’s only loss in that stretch was to San Diego State, 74-64. SCC point guard Adam Dzierzynski is averaging 17 points and six assists. He has averaged 23 points in his last four games. SCC will host Pacific Christian at 8 p.m. Saturday.
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More home hoops: The Eagles will host both men’s and women’s basketball tournaments this weekend.
The Concordia Classic field includes Concordia men’s teams from Minnesota, Illinois and Texas. The Eagles play Concordia (Ill.) at 5 p.m. today and Concordia (Minn.) plays Concordia (Texas) at 7 p.m. The final is 7 p.m. Saturday and the consolation game at 5 p.m.
The women’s tournament, the Eagle Invitational, features Dominican (Calif.), Bethany and North Park (Ill.). Concordia plays Dominican at noon today and Bethany plays North Park at 2 p.m. The final is 2 p.m. Saturday and the consolation game is at noon.
Also Saturday, the Chapman men host Pomona Pitzer at 7:30 p.m.