Chapman Can’t Get Winning Combination

Chapman let a perfect opportunity slip away Wednesday night in a women’s basketball game against UC San Diego.

Eight teams qualify for the NCAA Division III West Region playoffs. UCSD and Chapman, two of the best independent teams in the region, might not both get a bid.

Chapman seemingly had San Diego reeling midway through the second half, but the Tritons escaped for a 76-71 victory at the Hutton Center.

“We had them against the ropes,” Chapman Coach Mary Hegarty said. “Then we went through a spell of missing easy shots. I think we may have relaxed a bit and lost our focus.”

Chapman (9-4), which had a six-game winning streak end, took control of a close game with a 10-0 run that included consecutive three-pointers by Flo Luppani and Courtney Kanegae. After Shawna Parkinson scored with 11 minutes 59 seconds left, Chapman led, 58-51.

But San Diego (10-2) turned the tables on the Panthers and outscored them, 11-2, to take a 64-60 lead with 6:29 left. Chapman’s scoring drought continued; the Panthers scored only four more points until 38 remained.

They finally ended a 3:30 span without scoring when Kanegae banked in a three-pointer to make it 72-67. Chapman cut the deficit to three, 74-71, when Parkinson made a steal and a basket with 22 seconds left, but San Diego’s Tristen Teasdale made two free throws for the final margin.

Chapman was most effective when the Panthers were pushing the pace. Lyndsay Brown scored 19 points, leading five Panthers who scored in double figures. Kanegae had 13 points and eight assists, Luppani had 12 and eight assists and Parkinson and Melissa Lopez each had 10 points.

But San Diego was able to take control by slowing down the game and going to its inside players. Forward Anne Westmoreland had 22 points. Forward Karli Jungwirth had 15 points and 21 rebounds.

Jungwirth, who at 6 feet 1 is two inches taller than any Panther who played, had 11 offensive rebounds, nine in the first half.