REDLANDS, Calif. — Hardin-Simmons' women's basketball team fell behind early and could never recover in a 70-58 loss to Chapman in the season opener on Friday night in the Redlands Tip Off Classic in Redlands, Calif. 

Chapman ran out to a 15-6 lead with 13:21 to play in the first half. HSU responded with a 17-7 run to cut the deficit to 22-20 with 7:15 to play in the first half. It was as close as they would get. Chapman would push the lead to 31-22 and the Panthers led at halftime, 37-30.

The Cowgirls cut the deficit to 42-38 with 15:40 to play on a pair of free throws by Alexis Popelar, but Chapman used a 10-2 run to take a 52-40 lead with 11:27 to play and the Panthers kept the lead around double digits the rest of the way.

Chapman took advantage of 29 HSU turnovers and turned them into 26 points. HSU outrebounded the Panthers 42-32. Chapman shot 44.3 percent hitting 27-of-61 shots and HSU was 21-of-51 from the field for 41.2 percent.

Popelar led the Cowgirls with 22 points and freshman Shelby Hanna had 10 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. In all 12 Cowgirls scored in the game.

Sandra Gao led Chapman with 19 points and Kimi Takaoka (15) and Andrea Villanueva (11) also hit double figures. 

The Cowgirls will play Redlands on Saturday at 9 p.m. CST.

--- HSU ---