Inconsistent Chapman Ends Streak Against New Jersey

The Chapman women’s basketball team stopped a two-game losing streak Tuesday, defeating College of New Jersey, 60-54, at the Hutton Center.

It was a gratifying victory for the Panthers, who have been inconsistent this season. In their last four games before Tuesday, they beat La Verne and Cal Lutheran and lost to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Siena Heights (Mich.).

The last game was two weeks ago. Apparently, the break did the Panthers good.

Tuesday against a strong team from the NCAA Division III Atlantic Region, Chapman showed glimpses of the form that has Coach Mary Hegarty calling this by far her most talented team in four seasons at the college.

College of New Jersey put up a good fight. The Lions (6-3) led, 22-20, at the half and extended the lead to nine points twice early in the second half.

But Chapman (4-3) got over its cold shooting--the Panthers shot 24% from the field in the first half--and steadily narrowed the gap. Then reserve forward Stephanie Flaxbeard took over for a spell.

Flaxbeard, a 5-foot-9 freshman, scored eight consecutive Chapman points, turning a 40-36 New Jersey lead into a 44-42 Panther lead with 9 minutes 17 seconds left to play.

Chapman pushed ahead further, leading by as many as seven, but New Jersey battled back. Each time, however, Chapman responded. Maureen Fox scored all of her seven points, including two three-point plays, in the final seven minutes, and freshman center April Abeyta, playing in her first collegiate game, had four points and three rebounds down the stretch.

Stef McNamara had 15 points and Flaxbeard had 10 for the Panthers. Kelly Dougherty had 20 points for the Lions.

In another nonconference women’s basketball game:

CS Dominguez Hills 70, Concordia 69--Trailing by three with seven seconds remaining, the Eagles (8-3) couldn’t get off a three-point attempt, instead settling for a short shot by Audre Moss at the buzzer.

Kristin Weddick made a three-pointer with 39 seconds left to cut the deficit to one, but Dominguez Hills’ Andrea Glover made an inside shot with 12 seconds left.

In a nonconference men’s game:

Illinois Wesleyan 82, Concordia 77--Concordia (4-7) lost its fifth consecutive game as Wesleyan pulled away from a 38-38 halftime tie. Wesleyan is 9-0.