Congratulations to CMS for winning the automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs.  Tough game vs. DePauw, but Chapman has a tough one also vs Whitman.  Hey but we got two teams in and I see the conference to be stronger top to bottom next year.
I just want to say how well the Athena's played Saturday night.  The coaching staff did a nice job implementing their game plan to NOT ALLOW Takaoka to get the ball and smother her when she got it.  It was mostly Barnes did a fantastic job shadowing her.  I mentioned in my previous post who else would step up for CMS and it was a trio of players, Dobbert, Dungca and especially Ray.  Ray controlled the game and made big play after big play when needed.  CMS also shot very well and seemed much more in sync. 
For Chapman, it was a lesson learned on how to handle adversity.  The greatest coach in the world can't teach it because it's an individual as well as a team thing.  When Takaoka was having a difficult time getting open someone else had to step up other than Villanueva and Gao.  Higashigawa did, but the bench didn't produce as they had in the past and there were some costly turnovers form the starters as well as the bench players.  As the lead grew, Chapman mistakes rose.
I believe the Al-SCIAC teams will be announced shortly.  I said previously that Takaoka should be selected as POY.  I also think Coach of the Year should go to Jue.  She did a masterful job guiding this team through the multitude of injuries (two starters out for the season) but it helped develop a deeper bench and lack of experience in some positions.

CMC @ Chapman:
Chapman is 2-0 vs. CMS this season.  Third time the charm, but for which team.  For CMS to win, they'll need to not allow Chapman to control the boards.  Gao, Johnson, Ebrahimian, Moy, Hallstein and Villanueva average over 3+ boards a game.  Who else will rise to the occasion to help Scamman, Barnes and Brackman.  Perhaps it could be Ray?  Chapman CANNOT ALLOW Scamann to get to the paint as she easily does.  She's the reason why the Chapman games against CMS are close.  Scamman is unflappable and sometimes unstoppable as she proved against Redlands the other night.  If someone else doesn't step up for CMS, Chapman will win by 12-16 points.   I still like Chapman to win if the game is close.  Takaoka and Villanueva are clutch players.   
I don't like to individualize the great team sport of basketball, but the winner of tonight's contest could determine the SCIAC POY: either Chapman's Takaoka or CMS's  Scammann.  I think Takaoka should get it because her team lost two starters just as the season started and she's put the team on her back in several games this year when her teammates play was sometimes inconsistent.  Scammann has kept her team in games, but Takaoka has been very consistent.

SCIAC Playoffs begin tonight:
Redlands @ CMS:
I see this one as an all out war.  For me, Redlands has the edge in rebounding (almost 100 more than their opponents) and defensively creating just over nine steals a game.  CMS has the unflappable Scamman, who will keep CMS close and find a way to win the game.  I think Redlands has a little more depth and will end up winning in OT by three points.
Cal Lutheran @ Chapman:
Chapman was terrible in the first half at La Verne, but OMG they dominated La Verne in the second half to pull away.  They cannot have a mediocre game tonight because Cal Lutheran is a tough match up problem for them.  I think this game for Chapman will be tougher than the championship game (if Chapman wins).  If they play like they did in the 2nd half of the La Verne game, Chapman wins by 14-18 points.  If Chapman does stay focused the entire game, the game is close and Cal Lutheran may squeeze out the win.  Close game, I'll take Chapman by five. 

Saw last night's game, CMC vs Chapman.  I was ready to anoint Chapman as the team to beat in SCIAC after a MAGNIFICENT 1st half.  I don't know if you could play any better.  Supan, Chapman's back up point guard, has been playing much better; looks like she figured it out.  She makes quicker and BETTER decisions handling the ball and works harder on defense.  Prior to this, she held the ball to long and defense seemed to be an afterthought.  Hallstein, Chapman's tallest player has played well lately.  She's tough minded and aggressive and passes very well.  Where has she been hiding??
The second half was much different.  CMC's press was slowly affecting Chapman and when they got it to six points with under 4 minutes to play, this became anybody's game.  The confidence and swagger that Chapman played with in the 1st half was gone.  Very impressed with CMC's Scamman.  She would not let her team lose without a fight.  Barnes and Brackman rose up in the second half t help CMC's comeback.  What puzzles me is why do you call off your press when your down by three?  The other thing I couldn't figure out was why foul when Chapman had the ball and the shot clock was at 12?  A defensive stop would have gotten CMC the ball back with about 10 seconds left in the game.  Takaoka and Villanueva were amazing down the stretch.  I can't anoint Chapman as the team to beat, but if they win against Redlands Saturday, they're in the driver's seat.     

Cal Lu got revenge on Chapman with a ten point victory.  Cruz and Salottolo score 21 and 25 respectively.  Cal Lu took control of the game when they held Chapman scoreless for about eight minutes in the first half and turned a nine point deficit into a ten point lead.  Chapman tried to mount rallies but either Cruz or Salottolo hit a basket to increase the lead back into double digits.
Villanueva (Chapman) was incredible with 27 points on 12-19 shooting.

I've been MIA the past few weeks but now return to talk about the Chapman women's team who I try to see play ever chance I get, live stream or in person.  To me I think this team is the lukewarm favorite to win to finish first and host the SCIAC playoffs.  I say lukewarm because their size will be an issue for them.  An athletic post player gives them some trouble.  As hard as Gao plays, she tends to get in foul trouble albeit she's doing better than last season not committing silly fouls.  Takaoka and Gao should be under strong consideration for POY because they've been on every team's game plan. Takaoka has carried the offensive load for the majority of the season.  She hit a big three pointer with 22 seconds left in the game against Oxy last Saturday to put them ahead for the first time since early in the game.
Villanueva and Higashigawa have been playing better and better with each game.  Higashigawa who's used mainly to guard the opponent's best scorer, has now been contributing offensively hitting some clutch shots in the second half of the La Verne and Oxy games.  Villanueva has really settled down at the point.  She's personally responsible for the team's wins against Messiah, Claremont and La Verne.  Johnson played an outstanding game vs. Oxy and her two free throws sealed the win.  Moy and Ebrahimian and freshman Krysl are contributing positive minutes.  If they had Sato, who's injured, Chapman would be pretty tough to beat.
At this point of the season, the contenders are: Chapman, Cal Lu, Redlands, La Verne and CMC.  I give Chapman a slight nod to win the league and host the playoffs with Cal Lu 2nd, Redlands 3rd and CMC 4th.  I think Oxy is going to be a spoiler.  Thursday, Chapman goes to Cal Lu and one might think if Chapman wins, they'll have a stranglehold on first, I don't think so because somebody will knock them off.   This is going to be a GREAT GAME.

Chapman struggled a little but defeated Cal Lu 81-72.  Regals without their three Al-SCIAC and seniors from last year are a different team.  Jessica Solottolo, Sofia Cruz and Chelsea Jacoby were the only firepower they had.  Jacoby is a player and Chapman was lucky she was in foul trouble.  I think they were missing someone else but for the life of me I can't think of who it was.
Gao, Takaoka and Villanueva combined for 59 of Chapman's 81 points.  But for a team that uses high pressure defense to create turnovers and easy scores, it's not working!  Cal Lu had one more turnover (19-18) than Chapman but outscored them 21-12.  They better tighten up their defensive rotations and keep the offensive players in front of them or when they really get into SCIAC play, they'll lose games they should have won.  They also need to get Takaoka more open looks at the basket, like with screens or pick and pop. 

Congratulations to Kimi Takaoka for reaching 1,000 points vs George Fox two Saturday's ago.
Tough loss for the Panthers last night.  However a good game for Andrea Villanueva with 30 points and six rebounds, three steals.  Looks like she came out of her long shooting slump.  Hopefully this is a confidence builder for her and when Lauren Sato returns, the Panthers with these two, Takaoka and Gao, pretty nice firepower.  BTW, Gao fouled out with four minutes left.  If she would stop committing "silly fouls", she'd stay in the game longer. 
Gotta hand it to Redlands, they made the plays down the stretch and Chapman did not (missed free throws).  love teams that show resiliency.  Very, very interesting game this Saturday with Chapman hosting Cal Lu.

Good start for Panthers.  Hoops_lover, looks like they might have a bench with Nicole Moy, who just finished volleyball and Natalia Ebrahimian, a post player who's been solid.  Lynne Higashigawa has really stepped up starting for injured Lauren Sato. She's been a pleasant surprise.  Have a home game Saturday vs. George Fox.  Chapman beat them last year.  Kimi Takaoka is FIVE points from 1,000 in her career.