Women's basketball falls to CMS in late-game battle

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women's basketball team dropped a close battle to the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas 54-49 in their first home game of 2022. Julia Strand led the pack once again with 26 points on the night, going 12-13 in free throw attempts.

The Panthers struggled with momentum in the first quarter trailing the Athenas 8-2 five minutes in. Claremont held a 10-4 lead with one minute remaining in the first but Strand single-handedly decreased the deficit to two securing four free throws and a layup sending the Panthers into the second down 12-10.

Chapman trailed throughout the entirety of the second and third quarter but tied the game 36-36 early in the fourth when Julianna Campas sunk a shot from behind the arc. The panthers took their first lead of the game with a Strand free throw.

Campas created a late-game battle with another three with 2:30 on the clock setting the score 48-47 but the Panthers were unable to capitalize and fell behind dropping the game to the Athenas.

Strand continued her momentum after securing 32 points and 18 rebounds earlier this week against La Verne. Along with her 26 points, she secured seven rebounds, three assists and six steals on the night. Campas contributed 11 points and secured four rebounds trailed by Katie Kubo with ten points. Austyn Masuno led the Athenas and served up 17 points and 15 rebounds.

The Panthers are back in Hutton on Monday night to face the Whittier College Poets at 7 p.m and hit the road on Wed., Jan. 19 to face Occidental.