LA VERNE – Emily Myers scored 14 points and Lindsey Foster added 10, but the University of La Verne women's basketball team gave up too many extra possessions as it suffered a 68-48 defeat against Redlands on Thursday night at the Franz Athletic Court.
La Verne falls to 12-8 overall and 7-4 in SCIAC play. Redlands improves to 16-5 and 9-3.
Neither team shot the ball particularly well but the difference was Redlands' offensive rebounding and defensive pressure that forced turnovers.
The Bulldogs cleaned up 17 of their own misses and registered 18 second chance points to the Leopards' six. La Verne committed 23 turnovers that led to 20 points on the other end for Redlands.
After trading baskets through the 9-minute mark the first half, Redlands went on a 13-6 run to break the game open and take a 33-21 lead into the break. Brittany Oster and Colleen Goeser accounted for all 13 points and the Bulldogs hauled in six offensive rebounds during that stretch.
Redlands carried the offensive momentum to the second half as it stretched the lead to 40-23 on a Kameran Dage layup less than four minutes into the stanza.
Then the Leopard offense looked to be coming alive after two Jasmine Bush free throws, a Foster midrange jumper and a fast break lay-up by Myers cut the deficit to 40-29, but that was as close as the Leopards would get. A prompt timeout and two buckets by the Bulldogs stemmed the Leos' momentum.
The Leopards again got within eleven a few minutes later on an elbow jumper by Myers, but Redlands was able to respond with a pair of 3-points from Caitlin Ciardella.
Myers collected four rebounds to go along with her 14 points. Shannon Irwin had six points and five rebounds
Oster had game highs of 25 points and 16 rebounds for Redlands. Goeser finished 15 points and six assists.
La Verne returns to action on Saturday at 7 p.m. when they host Cal Lutheran on "Go Green Night." All students who wear green to the men's and women's doubleheader will receive a raffle ticket at the door and winners will be announced at the halftime of the game.
