More Relaxed Practices Working for Chapman

During the holiday break, Chapman women’s basketball Coach Mary Hegarty had plenty of time to think of ways to solve the mystery of the Panthers’ inconsistent play.

Here was a team with talent to spare that was showing it only sporadically. Victories over La Verne and Cal Lutheran were followed by losses to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Siena Heights. The loss to Siena Heights, an average NAIA team from Michigan, left Chapman 3-3 and Hegarty wondering what to try next.

“Our talent didn’t seem to be coming through,” Hegarty said.

After giving the team nearly two weeks off for the holidays, Hegarty settled on a solution: less structure. Practices formerly loaded with drills were turned over to scrimmages.

The minimalist coaching approach seems to have been effective. Tuesday, the Panthers rallied to defeat a strong College of New Jersey team, 60-54. “It was nice to see them having some fun out on the court,” Hegarty said. “Before they were looking a little tied up out there.”

Hegarty also wanted the Panthers to loosen up their shooting triggers. She told her team she wanted them to take more shots than the opponent.

“I didn’t care if we shot 10% from the field,” Hegarty said. “It sounds like a strange goal, I know, but we have kids who are passing up shots.”

Chapman let the shots fly in the first half against New Jersey, taking 37, nine more than the Lions. The Panthers made nine for a shooting percentage of 24.3%, but trailed only 22-20. By shooting 50% (17 for 34) in the second half, Chapman was able to rally from a nine-point deficit and win.

One of Chapman’s strengths is depth and that showed Tuesday. With leading scorer Lyndsay Brown (14 points a game), limited to 10 minutes and six points because of foul trouble, Chapmangot strong play from freshmen Stephanie Flaxbeard and April Abeyta. Flaxbeard scored four consecutive baskets during a key second-half span. Abeyta, at 6-0 the tallest player on the team, had four points and five rebounds in eight minutes.

Saturday, Hegarty will get another chance to see whether the Panthers are beginning to tap their potential. Chapman hosts Washington (Md.) College at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Chapman hosts Wheaton (Ill.), which is 9-0 and ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division III.