Box Score LA VERNE, Calif. – Oxy trailed by three going into the second half and would have to overcome a 52.2% shooting performance from the University of La Verne over the final twenty minutes if they were to pull off the road win. The Black and Orange, fortunately, were up to the challenge, responding with a scintillating 58.3% offensive performance in the second half to claim a 78-69 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory.
After trailing 32-29 at intermission, the Tigers and Leopards exploded for 86 combined points in the second half. La Verne clung to that three point lead until Michelle Lo drained a long three to tie the score at 38-38. That basket ignited an 18-6 run, capped by a three pointer from Laura Mohler that staked the Tigers to a 53-44 lead with just 11 minutes left in regulation.
The Leopards fought back to cut the deficit to three, but could never slow down the Tigers enough to retake the lead, as Oxy was able to surge back in front by six before both teams seemingly traded baskets until the final buzzer sounded. The big offensive night was fueled by four players in the Black and Orange scoring in double digits, led by their leading scorer Makenzie Brandon, with a game high 27 points, and 16 points from 2010 SCIAC player of the year Stephanie Babij. Mohler added 14 while Stephanie Scamman filled up the stat sheet with 10 points, six boards, five assists, and three steals.
Both offenses were clicking tonight, as the Tigers shot 48% from the field, 50% from behind the arc and 75.9% from the freethrow line while handing out 15 dimes on 24 made baskets. The Leopards line was just as impressive, shooting 48.9% from the floor, 42.9% from long distance and knocking down 70% of their attempts from the charity stripe while passing out 11 assists on 23 field goals.
La Verne (9-12, 6-4) was led by Emily Carrillo who poured in 24 points to go along with a game high seven rebounds. Amanda Copas added 13 points while Ashley Paul chipped in with 11 points.
The SCIAC race is still very close, as Oxy and the University of Redlands still sit atop the standings with identical 8-2 records, but now both squads have a two game lead over third place. La Verne and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps are tied for third at 6-4, but are holding onto the final two conference playoff spots by just one game, as Cal Lutheran and Whittier are both sitting at 5-5 with four games left to play.
The Tigers (13-8, 8-2) travel to Pomona Pitzer on Saturday, February 12th, to face off with the Sagehens. Tipoff is scheduled for 5pm.
