LA VERNE, Calif. — The University of La Verne women's basketball team used an early 18-0 run to race past Puget Sound and held on for a 66-63 win on Wednesday night at Sports Science and Athletic Pavilion.

La Verne picks up its first win of the season to move to 1-2 and Puget Sound falls to 2-2.

Shannon Irwin sparked the run after the Loggers got out to a 10-0 lead to start the game. She got the Leopards on the board with a jumper and came up with a steal and a breakaway layup on two straight possessions to pull the Leopards within 10-6.

Emily Myers then hit two jumpers and Brianna Bishop sank two three-pointers to help the Leopards to an 18-10 lead.

La Verne never looked back and stretched the lead out to as much as 15 points.

But the Loggers made a furious late rally and had a chance to cut the deficit to two points with just over a minute to go when Allie Wyszynski had a wide open jumper at the elbow on a fast break. But Myers came out of nowhere and swatted Wyszynski's shot into the hands of Irwin. Puget Sound did cut the lead to 65-63 on its next possession but enough time had expired and was forced to foul.

Emily Chan made one of two ensuing free throws to give La Verne some breathing room. Puget Sound had 11 seconds to run a set but the Leopards played excellent defense and Alex Noren's buzzer beater from beyond the arc fell well short.

Irwin stuffed the stat sheet again, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals.

Myers grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with 15 points and three steals.

Brianna Bishop provided instant offense off the bench, going 6-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-3 from long range, to finish with 16 points.

Samone Jackson led the Loggers with 14 points but La Verne did an excellent job of shutting down Emily Sheldon, who came into the game averaging 21.3 points, and held her to just nine points.

The Leopards are back in action on Dec. 12 at home against La Sierra.