Bulldogs' Last Second Shot Tops Leopards

The University of La Verne women's basketball team dropped a narrow 71-69 decision at the University of Redlands Saturday at Currier Gym despite a strong effort from freshman Amanda Copas, who scored 27 and pulled down 6 rebounds in a losing effort.

La Verne shot an respectable 47.8% (22-of-46) from the field, nailing 61.5% (8-of-13) of their shots from beyond the arc. While the Bulldogs kept themselves in the game by shooting 43.9% (25-of-57) on the night. Redlands shot 72.7% (16-of-22) from the charity stipe compared to La Verne's 63% (17-of-27).

The Leopards led for a majority of a close first half that saw five ties and six lead changes. The Leopards jumped out to an early 8 point lead (13-5) after four of La Verne's starters scored. The Leos would only get up 5 points in the next five minutes, and the Bulldogs would go up 18-16.

La Verne gained control after Copas converted a free throw to give the Leopards a six-point lead (34-28) with 3:42 left, but Redlands would go on a 8-2 run to tie the game at 36-36 before Clarissa Holz made a layup in the closing seconds to give La Verne a 38-36 lead heading into the break.

Redlands' bench played a big part in the Bulldogs' second-half success, scoring 14 of their 35 points, while La Verne's bench failed to score after intermission.

The Leopards held their biggest lead of the game after Copas made a jumper to put La Verne up 43-36 early in the last period. The Bulldogs countered with a 14-4 run as forward Courtney Carroll gave Redlands a three-point lead (50-47) after scoring six consecutive points of the run with 10:32 left in the match. Redlands would hold the lead for a majority final 10 minutes, going ahead 6 on three seperate occassions. The game's pace was slowed by fouls, as both teams combined for 12 free throw attempts in the final four minutes.

Trailing by five points at 69-64 in the final minutes of the game, Copas recorded the eighth tie of the game after converting a three-point play and a lay up with 22 seconds remaining. Redlands had one more chance to win the game, and forward Meghan Yetman came through with a lay up with one second remaining to give the Bulldogs the 71-69 victory.

Holz totalled her second double-double in three games with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Ashley Paul added 11 points to a starting rotation that scored 65 of La Verne's 69 points. Mariah Barbetti-Cort led Redlands with 16, while seniors Yetman and Ali Bueno combined for 25. Carroll, who torched the Leopards for 31 points last time the two teams met, contributed 13 points off the bench.

La Verne will continue their four-game road match next Thursday in Claremont as they take on Pomona-Pitzer. Last time the Leopards played the Sagehens, La Verne's defense held Pomona to just 28 points. Tip off is at 7:30 pm.

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