LA VERNE, Calif. — Emily Myers had a near double-double but the University of La Verne women's basketball team could not overcome 24 turnovers in a 62-48 loss to a strong UC Santa Cruz team at Frantz Court on New Year's Day.

UC Santa Cruz carried a 4-2 record against SCIAC opponents into today' game, including a 64-36 win over the defending SCIAC co-champions Chapman on Dec. 13. The Banana Slugs improve to 12-5.

How it happened: La Verne looked sluggish to start the game and turned the ball over 16 times just in the first half.  The Leopards settled down in the second, but the Banana Slugs managed score 27 points off La Verne's turnovers in the game and that proved the difference.

La Verne made just four baskets in the first 11 minutes of the game and trailed, 20-8, at the 8:53 mark in the first half. But the Leopards outrebounded the Banana Slugs, 23-11, in the half to offset the turnovers and went into the break trailing by just four points.

It was over when: After Valentine hit a three-pointer and Myers sank a pair of free throws out of halftime to keep the Leopards within five points, the Banana Slugs scored the next 10 points to run away from the Leopards. Sarah Fitzgerald hit two three-pointers during that stretch to aid the Banana Slugs.

Players of the game: Myers scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds to pace the Leopards while Kayla Valentine led the Leopards in scoring with 10.

Geena Giovannetti scored a game-high 18 points for UC Santa Cruz and two other Banana Slugs reached double figures. Fitzgerald ended up with 14 and Sarah Mackey had 12 points to go along with nine blocked shots and eight rebounds.

What it means: La Verne drops to 3-7 on the season as it heads into the meat of SCIAC play

Up next: The Leopards will return to action on Saturday at 2 p.m. when they travel to Cal Lutheran.