Leopards Take Consolation Game Thanks To Three-Point Barrage
The University of La Verne notched an impressive 65-48 win against the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Sunday afternoon in the Consolation Game of the Ninth Annual McWilliams Classic in St. Louis.
The Leopards set a single-game record by hitting 14 threes led
by All-SCIAC guard Ashley Paul and freshman Devon Michaels, who
combined for half of the record setting mark. La Verne also hit 19
three-pointers in two games, giving them the tournament record as
well. Sophomore forward Clarissa Holz earned a spot on the
All-Tournament team thanks to her 12 point, 11 rebound
performance.
Both teams shot over 40% for the first half, but La Verne would
hold a two point lead at the half thanks in large part to 7-of-14
(50%) from deep. La Verne continued to shoot well in the second
half while holding the Engineers to 38% shooting. The Leopards
scored 20 points off of 22 turnovers, while Rose-Hulman did most of
their damage in the paint, scoring 28 points in the key.
Paul kicked off the contest with a three-pointer, scoring the
first of her four from deep. The game would bounce back and forth
before the Leopards took a six point lead with 11 minutes left on
an Amanda Copas three and free throw. Alisa Dickerson and Nicole
Klass kept the Engineers in the game with 15 combined points, but
trailed 32-30 at the half.
Paul collected the rest of her threes in the first seven minutes
of the second half, as La Verne blew open a 17 point lead on
8-of-10 shooting to cap off a 21-6 run. The Engineers would try to
answer back, but were held to just 18 second period points and the
Leopards would take a 65-48 finish.
Mayra Duenas finished the game with 12 points, while Paul chipped
in a team-high 13. Copas got her first start of the year and
contributed 8 points, 6 assists and three steals, while Michaels
added 9 off the bench. Dickerson tallied 12 points and collected 9
boards for the Engineers, while Klass led Rose-Hulman with 13
points. Center Donna Marsh grabbed 10 rebounds and added 5 points
and 2 blocks.
Both Dickerson and Holz made the All-Tournament team after their
two day performances. They join Becky Atnip from Rhodes College and
Zoe Unruh, Jaimie McFarlin and Alex Hoover from Washington
University-St. Louis. Hoover was also named tournament MVP.
The Leopards will fly back to California Monday night and resume
action at home against La Sierra on Thursday night. Tip off starts
at 7:30 pm.
