ORANGE, Calif. – After beginning the season with three home victories decided by four points or less, the Chapman University women's basketball team made its fourth game a sound victory. The Panthers defeated visiting Willamette University (Ore.) by 24 points on Wednesday afternoon, a 75-51 win at the Hutton Sports Center.
Chapman (7-4) won for the sixth time in its last seven games (after beginning the season 1-3) and improved to a perfect 4-0 at home this season.
The Panthers' average margin of victory at home this season had been less than three points, including back-to-back wins decided by a basket in the final minute of play.
ORANGE, Calif. - On Wednesday, the Panthers put some space between themselves and Willamette with high offensive production. Chapman reached the 75-point mark for the fourth time this season, including 41 points in the first half. Four of Chapman's five starters reached double figures in scoring, led by sophomore G Kimi Takaoka who had 20.
Willamette (1-10) got into foul trouble early in the first half getting Chapman into the double-bonus with 12:30 remaining in the half. The Panthers capitalized by going to the line a total of 23 times before the intermission and taking 41 free throws in the game.
The Bearcats also struggled with Chapman's full-court pressure defense, committing 40 turnovers in all.
Chapman built a double-digit advantage midway through the first half and never looked back. Baskets by Takaoka and junior F Liz Hartnett with 1:39 remaining gave the Panthers an 18-point lead – their largest of the half.
In the second half it was more of the same for the Panthers, who out-scored the Bearcats 18-6 over a five-minute span late in the game to push their lead to 26 with 2:01 remaining.
Junior G Anne Yoshimura scored 16 points, including 8 of 9 from the line, and added three assists and four steals. Junior G Emily McCoy and freshman PG Andrea Villanueva added 13 points each for Chapman.
For Willamette, senior F Kaileigh Westermann earned a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Chapman will have an eight-day layoff for the holidays before playing in the Tiger-Panther Classic on Dec. 30-31. The Panthers will face Monmouth College (Ill.) on Dec. 30 at 5 p.m. at Occidental College before returning home to host Hiram College (Ohio) on New Year's Eve at 5 p.m.