FULLERTON — Emily Myers had 28 points and Brianna Bishop had a career-high 17 but the University of La Verne women's basketball team could not overcome a slow start in a 93-67 loss to Hope International on Wednesday night at Darling Pavilion.

The Leopards were sluggish all around in the first quarter as they shot just 4-of-19 from the field and committed seven turnovers. The Royals started the game on a 25-4 run had a 19-point lead at the end of the first quarter. The Royals hit a jumper and a three to stretch the lead to 32-9 to start the second.

La Verne then regrouped and matched Hope International almost evenly the rest of the way but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.

Depth turned out to be a big factor. Shannon Irwin pitched in 13 points but the Leopards outside the trio of Irwin, Myers and Bishop only managed to score nine points. On the other hand, 13 different players got on the board for the Royals and four players reached double digits in scoring.

It was a breakthrough game for sophomore Bishop, who went 7-for-12 from the field while grabbing six rebounds.

Myers matched her career high in points from late last year when she dropped 28 against Redlands on Senior Night. The senior added five rebounds and two steals.

Despite committing nine fewer turnovers than the Royals, the Leopards were outscored on points off turnovers as Hope International scored 16 points off La Verne's 13 turnovers while the Leopards managed 11 off 22 Hope International mistakes.

The Royals also outrebounded the Leopards, 53-35, and scored 20 second chance points.

La Verne returns to action on Sunday against Bethesda at East Los Angeles College. Tipoff is at 2 p.m.