Criswell ties career-high but Panthers fall in home finale

ORANGE, Calif. – Senior Lucy Criswell tied her career-high with 32 points but the Chapman University women's basketball team fell 75-68 to Redlands. Criswell broke a school record for free throws in the fourth quarter.

Criswell scored the third 30-point game of her career and equaled her career-high set against Illinois College to open the 2018-19 season with 32 points. She knocked down all 13 free throws she attempted – becoming the first Panther in school history to go 13-for-13 at the line. In 2012, Sandra Gao went 12-for-12 at the line and was the only Panther to have a perfect night with at least a dozen attempts.

However, the Panthers couldn't overcome a late deficit in a game that featured 72 free throw attempts – 45 of which came in the fourth quarter.

A close game throughout the first half saw Redlands lead by one after the first quarter. Chapman's seniors – Criswell and Marissa Dunn – fueled a couple of 5-0 runs in the second quarter that powered the Panthers to a 24-22 halftime lead.

Redlands quickly climbed out of the hole to open the second half and back-to-back three-pointers built a six-point lead at 32-26. Chapman stayed in the game but trailed by four heading into the fourth.

Criswell scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter, giving the Panthers a 42-41 lead on one of her three three-pointers. Her layup to make it 44-41 prompted a Redlands' timeout. Alyssa Downs knocked down a three-pointer out of the timeout and Cassandra Lacey came away with a steal and three-point play to reverse the score and put Chapman down 47-44.

Redlands methodically pulled away until the five-minute mark when the game quickly turned into a free throw competition. The Bulldogs hit 21-of-33 free throws in the fourth quarter alone while Chapman shot 10-for-12 at the line in the final quarter.

Dunn scored 10 points before fouling out but was the only other Panther in double figures. Criswell also had a team-high nine rebounds to go along with a pair of assists, two more steals and two blocks. The Panthers shot just 32.8 percent on the night and 22.2 percent beyond the arc. Redlands shot 40.8 percent from the field.

Chapman will finish up the season on the road at La Verne on Saturday and at Caltech on Feb. 22. The loss eliminated the Panthers from the contention for the fourth and final spot in the SCIAC Tournament.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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