Kimi Takaoka scores 26 in Chapman’s fourth straight win

In a game dripping with SCIAC Tournament implications, the Chapman University women’s basketball team remained red-hot, defeating visiting University of La Verne 89-77 at Hutton Center on Saturday night, leapfrogging the Leopards into fourth place in the conference standings. The top four teams qualify for the SCIAC Tournament and a chance to earn an automatic berth into the NCAA playoffs.

Backed by junior Kimi Takaoka’s shooting, Chapman (16-5 overall, 8-4 SCIAC) held the fast-paced offense of La Verne (10-10 overall, 7-4 SCIAC) to a 15-game low 77 points, well below its season average of 85-plus points per game. In doing so, the Leopards lost their fourth consecutive contest, descending from first place to fifth place in just two weeks. Read more at the Athletics website.