ORANGE, Calif. — Women's basketball took home a win in its season opener on Sunday, Nov. 12 against La Sierra, 84-64.

The Panthers trailed 2-0 after the first basket of the game, but that was the last time they were behind for the remainder of the contest, opening the game on a 14-5 run and extending their lead to 20 by half time.

Chapman was led by freshman Makenna Nitao who scored 20 points in 27 minutes. She shot 8-of-13 from the field and 1-for-3 beyond the arc. Nitao also had two of the Panthers 17 steals as the squad forced 32 turnovers on the defensive end.

Freshman forward Layla Woods was dominant inside picking up five steals, while scoring 10 points and collecting seven rebounds, leading the team. 

It was a collective scoring effort across the board as eight Panthers scored six or more points, including Colleen Navasartian who had nine off the bench, a career high, and Maile Nakaji who scored 10 in her debut with Chapman.

The Panthers return to the floor on Friday when they travel to the pacific northwest to take on Pacific (Ore.) at 6 p.m., followed by Willamette on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. Both games will be played at Pacific in Forest Grove, Ore.