REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Basketball team returned to the court Monday night after a three-week break from competition to beat Chapman University 71-69.
The Maroon and Grey were shorthanded on the evening due to COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols only having eight players available, two of which were starters. On top of that they were forced to play catch-up erasing a 21-point deficit to beat the Panthers on the final possession of regulation.
With the victory Redlands improves to 7-2, 3-0 SCIAC and hold onto their top spot within the conference standings. On the other side Chapman drops to 3-7, 2-2 SCIAC.
After a dismal opening 1st Quarter where they were outscored 26-7, the Maroon and Grey were able to fight back to outscore the Panthers, 22-12 in the 2nd Quarter and 28-16 in the 4th to pull off the comeback.
Ten unanswered started the run in the 2nd with Starla Murillo (Fremont, CA) adding two free-throws, Angelina Roque (San Diego, CA) converting a layup and two free-throws, followed by a trio of layins from Leah Tan (Alhambra, CA), Murillo, and Alyssa Downs (South San Francisco, CA). This cut the deficit to single digits at 28-21, but again Chapman was able to get back-to-back buckets to stretch the advantage back to double figures. With under a minute to play before the half, Chapman's Julianna Campas knocked down a triple that moved the advantage to eleven, but it was short-lived as Julia Balestreri (Pleasanton, CA) would add two free throws right before the half moving the score to 38-29.
Campas provided a quick spark for CU in the 3rd Quarter with a quick triple to move the deficit to 12, but Downs responded with her own deep shot, which led to a 9-2 run for UR. Five of those points came from the charity stripe thanks to Balestreri, Downs, and Roque, while Tan added a layup inside. This made it a four-point game with 4:47 to play in the period. But that momentum was soon taken away by the Panthers who ended the quarter on an 8-2 run increasing their advantage back to double figures.
Kayleigh Watanabe (Santa Clara, CA) who earned her first start of the year got the U of R off on the right track to begin the 4th with a steal and layup and an assist to Tan that got the Bulldogs within five. Redlands continued to stay within striking distance over the next few minutes thanks to a triple and two free throws from Roque, a jumper from Downs and an offensive rebound and put back by Murillo.
Then with 2:24 to play the Maroon and Grey made their final push with Balestreri knocking down a jumper to cut the lead to three at 64-61. Roque followed with a layup to make it a one-point game and then did it again on the Bulldogs next possession that put them on top 65-64. After a defensive stop, UR was sent to the line for free throws, which Downs would convert making it a three-point game. Then after a CU timeout Julia Strand would go inside quickly making a layup to keep it a one-point game. After that Roque was then to sent to the line for extra shots, but came up short on the second giving CU some hope. But the ensuing deflection came to Balestreri for the offensive board who was then fouled forcing her to the line for a pair. She too would go 1-for-2 moving the score to 69-66.
With :06 seconds remaining Chapman was able to get the ball into the hands of Campas, their top deep threat and she again responded with a triple tying the game up with :04 seconds left. But this was too much time for the Bulldogs as they would advance the ball with their last timeout before finding Balestreri inside who would convert an up and under move before finishing for the eventual game winner.
Roque put up a career high 26 points on 8-of-16 shooting, while playing 35 minutes. She also added five rebounds, three assists, four steals, and a block. Downs chipped in with 13 points, Balestreri combined for a double double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while also picking up three blocks. Tan who was in the starting spot for the first time put up 11 points in 37 minutes of action and Murillo added a six point effort with a big 13 rebounds, nine of which came on the defensive glass, as she proved to be the unsung hero.
After the opening quarter, Head Coach Rich Murphy explained to the team "that they definitely didn't play their best basketball, but they still have a lot of time left in the game. They won't win it on a three, or a pair of free throws but will have to chip away little by little in order to be close in the end."
He also explained that "tonight was a great night for those players who don't see the court as much. They earned confidence, showing they can get the job done when called upon, and when they do that; it makes life easier for the coaching staff and the players. Across the board, there weren't many mistakes, the players took care of the ball and played tough on both ends of the floor."
On the evening Redlands shot 38.1% from the field, 23.1% from three-point territory and 76.9% from the free-throw line. They did their damage in the paint outscoring CU 30-20, while also winning the battle on the glass 42-31, earning 16 points off turnovers and seeing the bench chip in with 33 points.
Redlands has a short turnaround as they travel this Wednesday, January 12 to take on Caltech beginning at 7:00pm.
