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Women cagers set to face CMS in SCIAC

With aggressive play, senior Leslee Rogers helps to keep the Leos close behind the UCSD Tritons. With only minutes left in the game, the Leos managed to take the lead, adding another win to their already playoff-possible record. / photo by Rhidian Maehl
With aggressive play, senior Leslee Rogers helps to keep the Leos close behind the UCSD Tritons. With only minutes left in the game, the Leos managed to take the lead, adding another win to their already playoff-possible record. / photo by Rhidian Maehl

by Rob Strauss
Staff Writer

The University of La Verne women’s basketball team plays the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas tonight, in a game that will have a big impact on the standings in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).

The Leopards (7-2) go into tonight’s game ranked seventh in the NCAA Division III West Region, just one half game behind the Athenas (8-2) in the conference. Claremont, which is ranked fourth in the west region, suffered a huge loss to Pomona-Pitzer on Tuesday night, 70-54. The loss moved the Leos within striking distance.

The Leopards had a big win against the Cal Lutheran Regals on Tuesday night, 70-55, despite the injury of senior Leslee Rogers, who is one of their top players.

“The doctors think I tore a ligament,” Rogers said, just after Tuesday’s game.

Rogers started off strong, with three three-pointers, but halfway through the first half she had to leave the game.

Junior Katie Miner was able to step up and give the Leos a seven-point lead at halftime, 38-31.

The Leos came out strong in the second half, driven by the play of Miner, who led all other players in scoring with 26 points. Miner also had 23 rebounds for the game. Senior Tiffany Hall had a big game as well, scoring 16 points. The top scorer on the Regals was Nicole Albert, who had 15 points.

The Regals were hurt by fouls, 21 for the game. Two players, Missy Rider and Evi Orologas, fouled out with five personal fouls.

Rogers says that she hopes she will be able to play tonight in the big game against Claremont.

“When Leslee got hurt we stepped up as a team,” said Miner.

The Leos also scored an impressive victory against the UC San Diego Tritons on Saturday night. The Tritons got off to a fast start with Marcia Jeffries scoring the first two points.

Through missed opportunities and turnovers by the Leos, the Tritons were able to build up a lead of nine points midway through the first half.

The Leos came back within two points by halftime, through the work of Rogers and Miner, who had six rebounds in the first half.

The Tritons built up a lead of six points at the beginning of the second half, but fouls began to hurt them and enabled the Leos to regain the lead with 68 seconds left in the game. Sophomore Laura Czingula took a pass from Rogers and missed the basket the first time, but ended up scoring two points off the rebound.

The Tritons had one final opportunity in the final second, but a missed three-pointer by Cindy Yamasaki sealed the win for the Leos.

“It was an important win,” said Head Coach Julie Kline. “UC San Diego is always a tough team. They beat us early in the season.”

A win tonight for the Leos would give them a half game lead against Claremont.

“We stand one step closer to where we want to be,” said Miner.

Rob Strauss, Editorial Assistant
Rob Strauss
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