Defensive stand propels Chapman to eighth straight win
ORANGE, Calif. – A strong defensive stand in the second half proved to be the difference for the Chapman University women's basketball team in its 71-57 win over visiting Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.) at Orange High School on Wednesday evening. The Panthers won for the eighth straight game in the first of back-to-back-to-back games to close 2010.
With the score tied at 39 at halftime, the Panthers opened the second half with an 11-2 run to open up a nine point lead with 14:03 to play. Senior G Tara Glennon scored five of her nine points during that stretch to give Chapman its largest lead to that point.
The first half remained close throughout with no more than four points separating either team.
Chapman's defense was smothering in the second half, limiting RPI to just seven field goals in the half and forcing 18 turnovers (31 in the game). The Engineers shot just 28 percent over the final 20 minutes while the Panthers shot over 47 percent to pull away by double digits throughout most of the final 10 minutes.
Senior G Christina Ly set a career-high with 15 points, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the field to lead all scorers and pace the Chapman offense. The senior added four assist and five steals – literally stealing the show in the second half. Ly scored consecutive layups with under four minutes remaining in the game to give the Panthers a 67-54 lead and sealed the victory.
For the Panthers, seniors Simone Ibbotson and Brandi Hood added 12 points and six rebounds apiece.
Three Engineers scored in double-figures, led by Hillary McKinley's double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.
Chapman is in the midst of three games in three days, traveling to Occidental to face Wisconsin-LaCrosse on Thursday and then returning to the Hutton Center to host Southern Maine on New Year's Eve. Wednesday's contest was moved to Orange High School to accommodate a high school boys' basketball tournament held on Chapman's campus this week.
by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director
Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2010-11/files/rpi-cu.htm