Claremont, Calif. - The Chapman Women's Basketball team built a 33-22 halftime lead and maintained a double-digit lead during the second half as it improved to 5-0 with a 66-52 win over Pomona-Pitzer on Thursday evening in the SCIAC opener for both teams.

Chapman improves to 5-0 overall on the season, including a win over preseason No. 2 George Fox. Pomona-Pitzer, which was led by 12 points on 5-9 shooting from sophomore guard Ruthie Shapiro (Moraga, Calif. - pictured) slips to 0-3.

The Sagehens also got a lift from freshman forward Jenn Okonkwo (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), who played in her first collegiate game and had 11 points, including 7-7 shooting from the foul line, and four rebounds.

Chapman jumped out quickly to a 6-0 lead with its full-court pressing defense, but the Sagehens hung tough and pulled back even at 13-13 on a free throw from sophomore forward Maria Weyhrauch (Juneau, Alaska). A pair of foul shots from junior guard Erin Edmonds (Salem, Ore.) had Pomona-Pitzer within 18-16 with 7:23 left in the half, but Kimi Takaoka hit back-to-back three-pointers for the Panthers to cap a 7-0 run and make the score 25-16.

A fast-break lay-up from Dana Brozost-Kelleher (Washington, D.C.) off a feed from senior guard Alexis Sones (Los Angeles, Calif.) made the score 29-22 with 1:30 left in the half, but Chapman scored the final two baskets to take a 33-22 lead into the break.

An 11-2 run to start the second half pushed Chapman's lead to 44-24 on a jumper from Anne Yoshimura, but the Sagehens hung tough and got the lead back down to 10 points at 52-42 on a foul shot from Edmonds with 9:25 left. After an exchange of baskets, Chapman had a 6-0 run to push the lead back up to 60-44, and the Panthers were able to cruise from there.

Sandra Gao led all players with 18 points and nine rebounds for Chapman. Takoaka added 11 points, and Andrea Villanueva chipped in with 10. Chapman held a 41-31 edge in the rebounding department and had 12 steals, led by four from Yoshimura.

Pomona-Pitzer will be back in action when it travels to Redlands on Saturday for another 7 p.m. contest.