ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women's basketball team defeated visiting Whittier 85-60 on Saturday behind a career night for freshman Julia Strand. Four of the five starters for the Panthers contributed double-digit points in the win.

Strand led the Panthers with a career-best 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Strand was followed closely by Junior Lucy Criswell with 17 points. Criswell led the team in rebounds grabbing a total of nine. Senior Jaryn Fajardo led the Panthers with six assists to go along with her 13 points, five rebounds and three steals.

The Panthers forced Whittier to seven turnovers in the first quarter and extended their lead to 16 points with a three-pointer made by Fajardo. The Panthers shot 58.8 percent in the first quarter to establish the big lead.

Junior Marissa Dunn and Strand led the team with seven points each in the opening quarter. Strand went 8-for-11 for the game while Dunn went 5-for-8. The Panthers continued to pull ahead in the second finishing the half with the lead at 49-28. 

The Panthers continued to push their lead in the third quarter. Both teams scored 18 points – the most points the Poets scored in a quarter. Chapman continued to cruise through the fourth, extending the lead to as much as 32 points. 

Chapman heads to La Verne on Monday for a 7 p.m. game to start a three-game road trip. Chapman returns home on Jan. 19 to face Claremont

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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