Photo by Shane Rodrigues
LA VERNE, Calif. — Noelle Cobb exploded for 29 points and 14 rebounds — both career-highs — but the University of La Verne women's basketball team could not limit turnovers in a 80-66 loss to Chapman on Thursday night at Sports Science and Athletic Pavilion.
La Verne falls to 2-11 overall and 0-4 in the SCIAC. Chapman improves to 9-5 and 4-1.
Cobb was by far the best player on the court. She found right spots on offense for easy baskets all night long, scored putbacks off missed shots and drained tough midrange jumpers.
She shot a red-hot 13-for-15 from the field and was 3-of-4 from the free throw line. She also controlled the glass on defense, hauling down nine on that end.
But the Leopards committed 23 turnovers and points off turnovers were the difference in the game. The Panthers converted La Verne's miscues into 24 points and the Leopards only managed eight.
The Leopards opened up a 15-8 lead midway through the first quarter on a pair of 3-pointers by Faye Osburn and three early baskets by Cobb. But La Verne cooled down, Natalia Ebrahimian scored seven straights for Chapman and the Panthers clawed back to tie the game at 21-21 at the end of the first quarter.
Trailing 34-32, the Leopards got four looks at the basket but just couldn't get one to fall and Chapman scored four unanswered points to take a 38-32 lead into halftime and never looked back.
Shannon Irwin also had a good night for La Verne, posting 16 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
Ebrahimian paced the Panthers with 21 points and Lauren Sato scored 19.
The Leopards are back in action on Saturday at Redlands.