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Leopards steal victory from CMS

Going for the rebound, Janie Cozine (No. 32) and Stephanie Foster (No. 35) look to increase the University of La Verne’s 21-point first half lead over the University of Redlands. The Bulldogs closed the lead to defeat the Leopards, 58-54. Foster contributed 15 points to the game. / photo by Gloria Diaz
Going for the rebound, Janie Cozine (No. 32) and Stephanie Foster (No. 35) look to increase the University of La Verne’s 21-point first half lead over the University of Redlands. The Bulldogs closed the lead to defeat the Leopards, 58-54. Foster contributed 15 points to the game. / photo by Gloria Diaz

Adrian Medrano
Staff Writer

The University of La Verne women’s basketball team held off a late Claremont-Mudd-Scripps rally en route to a 49-48 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference battle, Saturday.

The Athenas (16-5, 7-3) took a 48-47 lead, their first of the second half, when Betsey Butterick sunk an impressive three pointer with 50 seconds left in the game. However, the Athenas were unable to keep possession of the ball and hold onto the lead.

The Leopards’ senior point guard Sally Marroquin created a turnover with the game on the line and drove the length of the court to make the winning lay-up after the Athenas regained possession.

Athena head coach Jodie Burton did not elect to call a timeout after Marroquin’s lay-up which forced her team to play a bit more reckless in their last attempt to win the game.

Courtney Hicks, the Leopards’ senior shooting guard, blocked the final shot of the game and Marroquin fittingly came up, with the steal to seal the victory. Marroquin finished the game with eight points, nine rebounds and five assists.

“It got a little scary towards the end, especially when they went up by one,” said Leopard senior guard Stephanie Foster. “I knew we would be able to pull it off. I’m really proud of our team.”

The Leopards (11-10, 7-3) won the battle in the post as they out-rebounded the Athenas 47-40. The Leopards smothering defense also held the Athenas to a 27-percent field goal percentage.

“Our rebounding was great tonight,” Foster said. “Coach (Julie) Kline really stresses boxing out to us.”

The victory marked the Leopards’ 50th straight win and moved them into a second place tie with the Athenas in the SCIAC standings. The victory also avenges an earlier loss to the Athenas.

Freshmen Marissa Raya led the offensive attack with a team high 11 points. Foster also contributed nine points, including a three pointer. Sophomore Janie Cozine had a commanding 11 rebounds in the Leopards’ victorious effort.

After three straight SCIAC defeats, the Leopards found its winning touch. The duo of Marroquin and Hicks combined for a total of 43 points in a 68-60 victory over Occidental College, Jan. 29.

Raya led the Leopards’ charge with 23 points against the 67-49 triumph over Pomona-Pitzer, Feb. 3.

Junior Nicole Gerber went seven for seven from the field and finished with 14 points against Cal Tech adding to their 62-28 victory on Feb. 5, while Foster posted 16 points in the Leopards’ win over Whittier, 67-45, last Thursday.

The Leopards continue SCIAC play tonight in Thousand Oaks against Cal Lutheran.

Adrian Medrano can be reached at amedrano@ulv.edu.

Adrian Medrano
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