Chapman University guard Taylor Hamasaki has been named the school’s Athlete of the Week, it was announced Dec. 9.
Hamasaki tallied 42 points over two games for the men’s basketball team, including a career-high 27 points in the Panthers’ 61-56 win over reigning SCIAC champion Redlands. He excelled on both sides of the court, complementing his scoring efforts with nine assists, six rebounds and three steals.
Thriving on consistency, he has tallied six straight double-digit scoring efforts to open the season, knocking down 81.2 percent of his free throw attempts and 48.8 percent of his field goal attempts.
Hamasaki currently leads the Panthers in minutes played, points per game and steals while ranking second in field goal percentage and assists. Among his SCIAC foes, he ranks fourth in scoring with 17.3 points per game.
Hamasaki’s efforts weren’t enough, however, to save Chapman from losing its first of seven straight home games, a tough loss to Cal Lutheran, 84-81 on Dec. 7.
The Panthers and Kingsmen exchanged leads 24 times, but Cal Lu shot 66.7 percent in the second half to hold on for the win.
Hamasaki finished with 15 points, and Garrett James added 11 for Chapman.
The back-and-forth game kept Panthers fans enthralled until the bitter end when a desperation three-pointer from Hamasaki came up short to seal the Kingsmen win. The loss marks the first for the Panthers in conference this season, following an impressive win over Redlands on Dec. 4.
The Panthers were set to host West Coast Baptist on Dec. 13 before jumping back into conference play in a showdown with Whittier on Dec. 16.
– Chapman University Sports Information
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Uyematsu Nets 4 as San Marcos Falls
Lindsay Uyematsu scored four points in 10 minutes off the bench, but Cal State San Marcos suffered its fifth straight loss, a 73-68 decision to host Cal Maritime on Dec. 7 at the Cal Maritime Classic.
CSUSM dropped to 5-8 with the loss while CMA improved to 5-5 overall.
The Cougars hosted Simpson on Dec. 14, which was CSUSM Youth Night.
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Yasukochi Comes Off Bench for 2 in Aggies Loss
Brianne Yasukochi connected for a field goal in her nine minutes of action, but a second-half run by Hofstra broke open a tight game and lifted the Pride to a 76-57 victory over the visiting UC Davis Aggies on Dec. 7.
UC Davis returned to the court Dec. 14 as the Aggies headed to Moraga to take on Saint Mary’s.