LA VERNE - The Leopards (10-7, 5-3 SCIAC) of the University of La Verne lost tonight to the Tigers (10-7, 4-5 SCIAC) of Occidental College, 48-53.

After a slow first half that only posted numbers in the teens (16-19 OXY), the Leopards returned from the locker room with excellent determination.  The Leopards leapt into the lead by six points at 13:39 on a jump shot by Brynn Dahmer, but the Tigers were able to claw their way back, tieing the score 33-33 at 8:09.  Both teams pushed back and forth and Emily Meyers brought La Verne back to within one at 3:18, but the Leopards were unable to regain control of the scoreboard and the Tigers walked away with the win.

Shannon Irwin was the high point scorer for La Verne with 20 points and two rebounds.

The Tigers had three in the double digit point category.  Crystal Goodwin and Alyssa Mort tied with 14 points, and Ashton Reid posted 14.

The Leopards will next take on the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer in Claremont on January 25th.  Game time is scheduled for 7:00 PM.