THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Clarissa Perez and Bailey Kurahashi both finished in double figures, but a slow third quarter by the Univesity of La Verne women's basketball team helped the Pacific Lutheran Lutes surge ahead for good, beating the Leopards 73-57 Friday afternoon.

Perez finished with a team-high 18 points in the game, adding five rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Kurahahsi added 12 points with three three-pointers. The guard also dished out one assist and added a steal.

Alexa Withers led the Leopards with 11 rebounds. Withers currently leads La Verne with 6.1 rebounds per game. Senior Kayla Chism added eight points.

After heading into the break down by just one at 34-33, the Lutes came out firing and outscored the Leopards 22-4 in the period to take a 56-37.

La Verne rallied in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Lutes 20-17 in the period, but could get no closer.

Mackenzie Bell added six points off the bench for La Verne.

Madison Salisbury led Pacific Lutheran with 18 points.

The Leopards drop to 2-8 while Pacific Lutheran improves to 4-6.

La Verne returns to SCIAC action on New Year's day when they host the Occidental College Tigers. 

The matchup will be a home game for the Leopards but will be played in San Dimas at Life Pacific College's Mehl Court due to the ongoing construction of La Verne's new residence and dining hall.

Click below for directions to Life Pacific: