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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ORANGE, Calif. – Trailing by 18 points with 6:24 remaining in regulation, the Chapman University women’s basketball team rallied to tie the game 83-83 with 40 seconds remaining to force overtime, en route to a 108-97 victory over visiting University of La Verne in the first round of the NCAA Division III championships at the Harold Hutton Sports Center on Wednesday night. Chapman advances to the second round to face Howard Payne University (Tex.) on Saturday. Chapman (23-5) scored the first seven points in overtime – its first lead since 17:28 in the first half – and never relinquished the advantage. The win was the Panthers’ school record 17th straight. In the midst of the Chapman rally was sophomore G Lauren Kamiyama who nailed three three-pointers in the final three minutes of the second half, the last of which cut the La Verne lead to two. Senior F Gina Romero then made a steal and scored the game-tying lay-up. Kamiyama finished the game with a career-high 34 points, including five three-pointers and was 17-of-18 from the free throw line. La Verne (19-7) was in control for most of the game, maintaining a double-digit lead for the better part of the second half. All five Leopards starters scored 10 or more points, led by Charlene Guerrero’s 21 points and Emily Carrillo’s double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Trenecca Jones also earned a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards. Despite the high-scoring game, it was a battle of two physical defenses. In fact, the game featured 65 fouls and 96 free throws. La Verne’s defense frustrated Chapman from the outset, double-teaming the Panthers’ season-long top scorer Nicole Hayman, who finished with 14 points, but was just 4-of-12 from the field and held to one three-pointer. Chapman was limited to just 37 percent shooting from the floor in the first half; a number that got as low as 26 percent in the second half before the Panthers’ rally. In the end it was Chapman’s defense that came out on top. The Panthers forced 23 Leopard turnovers, including three in the final two minutes of regulation. Junior G Amelia Perez led Chapman’s defensive effort with five steals and 11 rebounds to go with 19 points. The Panthers will travel to Brownwood, Texas to face the No. 2 team in Division III, Howard Payne (27-1). The Lady Jackets received a first round bye and will host Chapman on Saturday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (cst).
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