COLLEGE DIVISION WOMEN : Chapman Sets Realistic Goals This Season

After losing five starters from a team that finished fourth in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. women’s basketball race, Chapman Coach Lindsay Strothers has reassessed the Panthers’ goals for this season.

“Last year I emphasized winning,” Strothers said. “This year I’m going to emphasize doing your best, and I think they’ll play a lot better and won’t feel as much pressure.”

Although the Panthers made the conference tournament, losing to Cal Poly Pomona in the first round, Strothers was disappointed with their 12-16 record.

“We had no consistency,” he said. “When you want to run and shoot threes and you only have one person who can shoot them, it’s kind of tough.”

Other than Missy Abraham, who made more than 45% of her three-point shots (48 of 105), no Panther shot better than 30% from behind the three-point line.

Strothers took the blame for not benching players who were lackadaisical on defense.

This season, Strothers has added two community college transfers who he says can shoot three-pointers--Sig Lo from Fullerton College and Heidi Sorour from Saddleback--and one who should help on defense--Tanya Oliver from Long Beach.

Those three bolster the core of six sophomores who played for the Panthers last season:

Melody Earle, a point guard from Estancia High who started nine games; Deanna Harry, a 6-foot-2 center from Woodbridge; Famisha Jones, another 6-2 center; Kim Moock, a 5-10 forward; Tiffany Fest, a 5-11 forward, and Deborah Nilsen, a 5-1 guard.

A look at the three other local teams:

CHRIST COLLEGE IRVINE

1991-92 record: 25-5, 8-2.

Conference finish: First (tie) in Golden State Athletic Conference, first in NAIA District 3.

The Eagles will be hard pressed to top last season, during which they won the first conference and district basketball titles in school history and advanced to the NAIA national championship tournament. But they lost to Wayland (Tex.) Christian in the first round, and Coach Kent Schlichtemeier says his team would like the chance to try again.

CCI has three All-District 3 starters returning--Gitte Mejer, the conference player of the year, who averaged 17.7 points; Stacy Kirch, an honorable mention All-American point guard, and Genevieve Graff, a second-team all-district guard.

The Eagles are bolstered by Julie Workman, a key reserve last season; Stacey Giem, an All-Orange Empire Conference selection who transferred from Orange Coast; and Talia Crooks, a sophomore who transferred from Chapman.

PACIFIC CHRISTIAN

1991-92 record: 17-14, 8-0.

Conference finish: First in California Coastal Conference.

Donna Allen, a three-time All-American who helped the Royals to a third-place finish in the National Christian College Athletic Assn. tournament last season, is the coach this year, but unfortunately for Allen, she doesn’t have any eligibility left.

PCC has only four players with collegiate experience: Joan Vande Voort, a 5-11 center who took last season off; Beth Buchanan, a guard who started last season; Cori Schweikart, a forward who came off the bench, and Tammy Morley, a reserve guard.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLEGE

1991-92 record: 11-19, 1-9.

Conference finish: Sixth in Golden State Athletic Conference.

Dean Cooper, in his first season at SCC, says the Vanguards haven’t adjusted to his disciplined style, but they are receptive.

SCC returns three starters: 6-0 center Jamie Zitterkopf, 5-9 forward Cyndy Lyons, and point guard Darnell Good. Good has been moved to off-guard because of the addition of Nicole Kelley, who led Lassen College to the State title last season.

“It’s very much of a transition year,” Cooper said. “That’s why I’m not fired up as far as winning is concerned. I’m asking the kids to play an entirely different kind of basketball.”