LA VERNE - La Verne Leopards women's basketball team (3-2, 0-0 SCIAC) beat the Golden Eagles of La Sierra (3-8) in a 73-71 overtime win.

After a slow 0-4 start, senior guard Megan Musashi put La Verne on the board with a 3-point bucket.  Taking advantage of an early La Sierra turnover, junior guard Riki Murakami swiftly put the Leos into the lead with a clean 2-point shot - just shy of the 3-point line.

The Leopards held the lead until the 2:43 minute mark when the Golden Eagles took over 24-27.  Battling back, freshman forward Gaby Maura-Hayes scored to reclaim the lead.  The halftime buzzer sounded in favor of the Leopards, 28-27.

The halftime break seemed to settle La Sierra as the Golden Eagles answered the La Verne first half lead change with a 28-30 second half lead change of their own in the first two minutes of play.  A hard fall by Musashi at 12:08 breathed fire into the Leopards and at 10:03 sophomore center Emily Meyers tied the game at 49-49.

Reclaiming and maintaining the lead soon after, La Sierra surrendered it at 1:28 when junior point guard Tiffany Hicks made both her free throws tieing the game yet again at 65-65.

Time out La Sierra.

Golden Eagle junior guard Natalia Hawthore (15 points, 5 rebounds) came out of the time out with poise and purpose and sent the game into overtime with a 67-67 score.

The overtime possession arrow went to La Sierra who took the initial OT lead.  But Leopard senior guard Lindsey Foster answered with her own 2-point bucket to tie the game.

With one minute left on the clock, La Verne led La Sierra 72-71 from a downtown 3-pointer by Musashi.  A missed Golden Eagle basket and a critical rebound by Murakami forced La Sierra to foul.  Missing her first free throw shot, Murakami scored the final point of the game to secure the 73-71 OT win for the Leopards.

Emily Meyers led the Leopards with 17 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Megan Musashi with 15 points and four rebounds.  Riki Murakami rounded out the team stats with 6 assists.

La Verne will next take the floor in their frist SCIAC game of the season against Conference opponent Occidental College in Eagle Rock, Calif. at 7:00 PM.