Gao leads comeback win over Cal Lu

ORANGE, Calif. - What seemed like the Cal Lutheran women's basketball team's game to win, shifted in the final two minutes as Chapman University staged a comeback led by freshman F Sandra Gao. The Panthers scored 13 points in the final three minutes to defeat the visiting Regals 75-71 on Saturday afternoon at the Hutton Center.

With 1:36 left to play, Gao made a basket in the paint and drew the foul to set up a three-point play and take the Panther's first lead of the half, 67-64. Gao scored a career-high 28 points and added 13 rebounds to earn her third double-double of the season.  

Following the shift in momentum, the Panthers secured the win with eight points from the free throw line by Gao, junior G Kimi Takaoka and senior G Emily McCoy. Takaoka finished the game with 23 points while McCoy added 10 points and a steal.

Chapman (7-1 overall, 3-1 SCIAC) trailed most of the game with their only lead coming in the start of the first half. Cal Lu's 48 rebounds helped them to control the lead, which at one point stretched to a 10-point margin. However, the Panthers forced 36 turnovers, including 18 steals to keep the game close. Senior G Anne Yoshimura had five of those steals and added five assists.

The Regals received a game-high 14 rebounds from senior G Erica Whitley and a team-high 20 points from senior F Starla Wright.

Cal Lutheran (7-2 overall, 3-1 SCIAC) entered the game unbeaten in conference and with just one loss overall.

Chapman will next travel to Biola Dec. 17 to start a strand of non-conference games until returning to SCIAC competition in January.

by Bogart Avila & Doug Aiken
Sports Information Intern & Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2012-13/boxscores/20121215_q0d6.xml

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