Deep Bench Is Mark of Strength for Experienced Chapman

After reaching the NCAA Division III tournament last season, Chapman Coach Mary Hegarty isn’t bashful about the Panthers’ plans to return to the postseason this season.

On the surface, that might seem to be a tall order, considering the Panthers will play with a small lineup but without two graduated starters: their second-leading scorer and point guard.

And this season the NCAA will select only six playoff teams from the West region instead of eight.

“But we finished ranked sixth last season anyway,” Hegarty said. “I think we should be better.”

One reason for that is improved depth. Hegarty says her roster is 10 or 11 deep.

And that early season optimism isn’t Chapman’s alone.

Here’s a look at the Panthers and the rest of the county’s small college women’s teams:

Chapman / 1996-97 record: 19-7

There are plenty of reasons for Hegarty’s excitement, starting with the return of leading scorer Lyndsay Brown. Brown, a 5-foot-10 junior from Esperanza High, averaged 15 points and six rebounds and gives the Panthers scoring punch inside.

Outside, two veterans return, including starting off-guard Courtney Kanagae, a 5-2 senior. She was second on the team in three-pointers behind Flo Luppani. Elizabeth Zanolli, a 5-3 senior, will step into the starting point guard position after backing up Luppani last season.

Lindsay Foss, a 5-10 sophomore from Esperanza, averaged nine points playing the wing last season in a reserve role, and 5-2 sophomore guard Melissa Lopez, who also averaged nine points, returns after starting 23 of 26 games.

The Panthers’ strength should be their quickness, and Hegarty plans to employ full-court man-to-man pressure to help offset the team’s lack of height.

“We’re pretty small,” Hegarty said. “It will be tough defending the bigger teams in half-court situations. But we have good team speed and an ability to play a full-court game.”

Lisa Nielsen, a 5-8 junior transfer from Los Angeles Valley College, and freshmen Desiree Talley (5-7, Newport Harbor High) and Shamekia Perkins (5-3, Tustin High) should contribute from the Panthers’ deep bench.

And if 6-0 sophomore center April Abeyta continues to improve rapidly, Chapman could surpass last season’s accomplishments.

Concordia / 1996-97 record: 28-6, 11-1 in the Golden State Athletic Conference.

First-year Coach Greg Dinneen takes over a team that won the conference last season but made a quick exit in the NAIA tournament, falling to Lewis-Clark State, 90-68, in the first round.

Although Angela Sather, conference player of the year and NAIA third-team All-American, used up her basketball eligibility (she played for the volleyball team this fall), Dinneen’s team has plenty of remaining firepower.

Concordia returns 11 players from last season’s team, including all-conference center Heather Carll. Carll, a 6-3 senior, averaged 14 points and nine rebounds, shot 56% from the field and led the team in blocked shots.

Kristin Weddick led the team in assists and averaged seven points and Allison Fortner averaged nine points last season in starting roles. Also returning are Angela Good, who averaged 11 points as a reserve, and backup point guard Dinah Shah.

Concordia has won its first two games convincingly, defeating La Sierra, 112-28, and Pomona-Pitzer, 77-47.

Pacific Christian / 1996-97 record: 6-20

The Royals got some bad news before the season.

Nikki Kubota’s father, Guy, died in September and Kubota, the team’s leading scorer last season, has decided to sit out the season. Third-year Coach Kelly Martinez said the team has dedicated the season to Kubota’s father.

Without Kubota, Pacific Christian will turn to 5-10 sophomore Adrienne Penn to lead the way.

Penn averaged 11 points and nine rebounds last season but has improved her game. She made four three-pointers in a 78-73 victory over Patten Nov. 20. Junior point guard Elaine Kreiss also played well against Patten, tallying 10 assists.

Kim Bento, a 5-9 guard from Merced College, also will make an impact in the backcourt and Martinez hopes freshmen post players Jahnel Curfman (5-11) and Sherri Rutt (6-0) also will contribute right away.

“We just need to keep building,” Martinez said. “We’re looking forward to playing in the GSAC next season and we just want to be more competitive every year.”

Southern California College / 1996-97 record: 18-11, 5-7 in the Golden State Athletic Conference.

Second-year Coach Russ Davis has a load of talented returners to go along with some highly touted newcomers to give the Vanguards a chance at contending for the conference title.

SCC was picked second in the coaches’ preseason poll for good reason.

All-conference selection Elaine Whittemore, a 6-0 senior, returns after averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds last season. Three other starters return: Six-foot senior Gina Jojola (nine points, seven rebounds), and guards junior Alana Kempton (10 points) and senior Amber Chaney (eight points).

Add to that five newcomers who will all make immediate impacts, Davis said.

Amee Pina, a 5-6 junior guard from Chaffey College, made more than 100 three-pointers in each of her two seasons there, Davis said. Sara Herkenhoff is a 6-4 junior center who transferred from The Master’s and Kristi Wright is a 5-11 junior from Victor Valley College.

“Sara gives us a new dimension off the bench,” Davis said. “Wright has been our most consistent player since practices began.”

And freshmen Marisa Emde (Marina High) and Kathy Hernando (Beaumont High) also will contribute.

“We don’t have any superstars,” Davis said, “but we are versatile. We can go big, go small, can play up-tempo and press, or we can play zone and play half-court. We have options.”