LA
VERNE,
Calif.(Jan. 29, 2009) – Both teams entered
the final first-round game of play in the Southern California
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with 5-1 records. Tonight on
the Franz Athletic Court the Tigers controlled the game for the
first 39 minutes, but lost the lead to the Leopards in the final 57
seconds when ULV scored the ultimate winning free-throw en route to
a 65-60 victory to obtain sole possession of first place, knocking
the Tigers into the second spot.
After shooting an outstanding 52% from the
field in the first half, sinking both free-throw attempts awarded
to them, they struggled to connect in the second half, hitting just
37% of their field-goals as ULV came from behind to steal the win.
La Verne finished the game shooting 50% from the
field.
While Dior Williams,
who earned SCIAC Athlete
of the Week honors last for her performance against Whittier and
Caltech, was once again a difference maker in the
first half. She scored seven points that came at critical times,
including her three-pointer which gave the Tigers a five-point
advantage with just under three minutes to play in the opening
stanza. She was credited with only one steal, but deflected a
number of passes and nearly walked away with five first-half steals
and finished with three.
In
the second half the Tigers looked to sophomore Stephanie
Babij who
finished with a 15-point, 11 rebound double-double. Brianne
Brown was the
only other player to hit double figures for Oxy with a team high 16
while she grabbed seven boards. Brittany Mally
and Zoe
Walsh converting their combined three chances for
seven points as each played just three minutes.
ULV
(14-3, 6-1) was paced by Emily Carillo who was responsible for 24
points and 10 rebounds, adding three blocks, three steals and a
pair of assists. Ashley Paul and Clarissa Holz scored 14 and 10
points apiece, respectively, while Holz also pulled down seven
rebounds for the Leos.
The
match-up was exactly what it was anticipated to be with the teams
fairly evenly matched in so many ways. Both squads finished with 28
rebounds, although Oxy notched two more offensive rebounds (eight)
than ULV. Oxy forced the Leopards to turn the ball over 12 times
and forced 11 Tiger turnovers. Oxy and ULV made 23 and 22 shots
from the field, respectively.
Occidental did hold an edge in free-throws,
making 91% (10-for-11) of their shots while La Verne was just 73%
accurate from the stripe.
The
loss snaps the Tigers' five-game win streak, which began on
Jan. 10 with a win over Cal Lutheran.
Saturday, Occidental will look for revenge
from the SCIAC opener when they host the University of Redlands
Bulldogs (13-5, 5-2) at Rush Gymnasium with tip-off scheduled for
5:00 p.m. preceding the men's game at 7:30 p.m. The last time
the two teams met the Bulldogs pounded the Tigers with a 73-46
loss.
