Women's basketball falls to the Slugs

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women's basketball team fell to the University of California, Santa Cruz Banana Slugs 96-76. Julia Strand secured another double-double on the night and served up 33 points and 10 rebounds, her highest scoring game of the season.

The Panthers struggled to find momentum in the first quarter and were only able to post 13 points compared to the Banana Slugs 20. Zoe Zurasky contributed four from the bench while Julianna Campas hit a three to bolster Chapmans offensive effort.

Chapman chewed away at the Slugs lead in the second quarter and first pulled ahead with a Brittany McPherson shot setting the score 21-20 with seven minutes left in the first half. The Panthers were unable to enter the second half on top and lost their lead with three minutes remaining.

UCSC dominated the second half leaving the Panthers unable to secure a lead again in regulation. Strand put up 12 of her 33 points in the third quarter and went 3-4 from the field and 6-6 in free throw attempts. Strand put up another six in the fourth but the Panthers still fell by 20.

Kaylee Murphy secured a double-double for the Banana Slugs and posted 17 points and 13 rebounds along with her six assists and five steals. Ashley Kowack led the offensive effort and tallied 18 points while Aubrey Wagner followed closely with 15.

McPherson contributed ten points for the Panthers and went 3-5 from the field while Zuraksy served up ten off the bench. Kylee Ishibashi secured a shot from beyond the arc and tallied nine points on the night.

The Panthers return home on Wed., Feb. 2 to face the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens in Hutton at 7:00 p.m. and are back on Saturday in the second game of a men's and women's double header to face the Redlands Bulldogs at 4:00 p.m.