Chapman (15-3) led by two at halftime, 46-44, after a tightly contested first half that saw eight lead changes and six ties. The Panthers went on a run to open up the second half, opening up a 13-point lead with 11 minutes to play – their largest lead of the game. Azusa Pacific (12-7) rallied with a slew of three-pointers and cut the Chapman lead to three with 3:13 remaining. However, that was the closest the Cougars would come.
The Panthers offense, which ranks among the top scoring and field goal percentage teams in Division III, showed why tonight, posting 90 points for the second consecutive game and shooting 53.7 (36-for-67) from the field. All five Chapman starters reached double-digits in scoring, led by senior forward Caroline Jensen’s game-high 19 points and 14 rebounds – her seventh double-double of the season. Freshman forward Courtney Minifee recorded her first career double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Senior guard Mel Bongiorno moved closer to Chapman’s all-time scoring mark of 1,614 points with 18 points of her own. Bongiorno, who also had three steals, is just 29 points shy of the school mark.
Four Cougars scored in double-figures, led by Marie Dyk’s 18 points, including four three-pointers. Azusa shot just 40.8 percent from the field, but 34.5 percent (10-for-29) from beyond the arc. Jaclyn Rice also and three three-pointers late in the game for Azusa Pacific.
XXX
Game stats can be found online:
http://www.chapman.edu/athletics/03-04/wbasketball/apu-cu.htm
NEXT CU WOMEN’S GAME: Friday, January 30th @ U.C. Santa Cruz; 6:00 pm