Women's basketball falls to first-place Athenas

ORANGE, Calif. - Despite a back-and-forth start to the game, the Chapman University women's basketball team was unable to hold off visiting Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, as it fell 59-51 at The Hutton Center. 

With both teams entering undefeated in SCIAC play, both were looking to take a foothold in the league standings. The Panthers (4-7, SCIAC 2-1) took a 7-2 run in the first five minutes of the game to establish a 9-4 lead. The SCIAC leading Athenas (11-3, SCIAC 5-0) worked their way back, led by senior Kimberly Scamman, who scored a two to tie the game at 13 with 9:35 to play in the first. Scamman finished with a game-high 20 points along with seven rebounds and two assists.

Sophomore Lauren Sato came off the bench for the Panthers to score eight points, including a three to give the Panthers a 16-15 lead in the first. This was Chapman's last lead of the game though, as the Athenas went on to a 13-2 run, ending the half up 34-22.

The Panthers came within two points twice within the second half but were never able to catch up to the Athenas, who finished with 23 points coming from their bench in the game. Senior Andrea Villanueva led the Panthers with a team-high 12 points and game-high 4 assists. Senior center Ivory Hallstein added eight points for the Panthers along with a game-best eight rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. 

The Panthers will next welcome Pomona-Pitzer to the Hutton Center on January 14 at 7:30 PM.

by Bogart Avila
Sports Information Assistant 

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