Women's basketball opens 2022-23 season on Friday

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women's basketball season gets underway on Friday when the Panthers host Macalester at 5 p.m. Chapman returns four of its five starters as it looks to continue to be a formidable force in the SCIAC.

After finishing in second place last season in the SCIAC standings, the Panthers were picked to finish third in a poll of the conference coaches but were one of four teams to pick up a first-place vote.

The Panthers return Julia Strand, who led the SCIAC in scoring and rebounding last season. The six-footer from Seattle, Wash. averaged 22.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game after starting the year with an injury. Strand is joined by fellow fifth-year senior Julianna Campas, who was an All-SCIAC selection in 2019-20. Campas averaged 10.4 points per game last year, making nearly two three-pointer per game.

Katie Kubo and Sammie Inana also return after starting the majority of the season last year. Kubo ranked second on the team with 3.4 assists per game while her Inana combined for 10 points and six rebounds per game.

Zoe Zurasky emerged late in the season as a spark off the bench for Chapman. She had at least one steal in eight of her last 11 games and scored a season-best 13 points in a win over Pomona-Pitzer.

A talented batch of newcomers add to the depth of experience Chapman brings back in 2022-23, including Cristin Lue returning to the team after sitting out last year.

With the majority of last year's contributors back on the bench in 2022-23, the Panthers have their sights set on contending for a SCIAC championship. It all begins with a 5 p.m. tipoff against Macalester in the Hutton Center on Friday.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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