CLAREMONT, Calif. — Clarissa Perez knocked down a contested layup with 16 seconds left to play and finished off the three-point play at the line to send the University of La Verne women's basketball team to overtime. 

But the second place Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas pulled away in the extra period, beating the Leopards 80-77 Wednesday night. 

With four seconds remaining in overtime and the Leopards down two, Jessica Hanashiro got off the would be game-winner, but her shot fell just off the mark. 

Perez scored a game-high 23 points, going a perfect 7-7 from the line with two three-pointers. The junior also led the Leopards with seven rebounds and six assists. Perez currently ranks second in the nation with 24.5 points per game. 

Bailey Kurahashi was hot from beyond the arc. The La Verne single-game three-point record holder scored 22 points with five threes in the effort.

La Verne stayed ahead of CMS for most of the game, leading by as many as 14 points and went into the break up 38-29. The Leopards smothered the Athenas on defense, forcing 24 turnovers that they turned into 28 points. 

The Athenas began inching their way back in the second half and took a 61-60 lead with 2:58 left to play off an Ellery Koelker-Wolfe layup.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps went up by six with just over a minute and a half left in regulation, but La Verne went on a 6-0 run sparked by a three from Kurahashi and capped by Perez's and-one to send the game to overtime.

Hanashiro finished with eight points and five rebounds. Kristi Sakamoto and Nyjeeiah Ganan each added seven points.  

Alena Koay, Perez, Hanashiro, and Kurahashi each totaled two steals. 

Corinne Bogle led the Athenas with 19 points. Koelker-Wolfe added 13 points. 

Season Impact: La Verne drops to 5-15 overall and 3-8 in the SCIAC. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps improves to 17-3 overall and 10-2 in the conference.