LA VERNE, CA — Clarissa Perez got off the would-be go-ahead shot as the clock wound down but couldn't connect as the University of La Verne women's basketball team fell to the visiting Redlands Bulldogs 75-74 Saturday afternoon.
Final Minute
With the game tied 72-72 and under a minute to play, Redlands' Hannah Jerrier threw up a layup but was immediately rejected by Brittany McDaniel. Monica Garcia Silva got off a shot that just missed but grabbed her own rebound and was fouled on her follow up attempt. The Los Angeles native made one of her shots from the charity stripe to put the Leopards up 73-72 with 26 seconds to play.
But Redlands responded with Jordan Smith draining a corner three that gave the Leopards just nine seconds on the clock to work with. After a timeout, Perez drove down the lane and picked up a foul that sent her to the line. The senior made the first attempt but the second rattled out. Perez grabbed the rebound and got off a contested shot that fell off the mark.
Stat Leaders
Garcia Silva added her sixth double-double of the season, leading all player in both points with 24 and rebounds with 11. The junior leads the SCIAC with 18.8 points per game and ranks third with 9.5 rebounds per game.
McDaniel and Perez each had solid games off the bench, scoring 11 points and grabbing four boards apiece. McDaniel's block moved her season total to a SCIAC leading 49 blocks. Prior to Saturday's game, McDaniel ranked 11th nationally in total blocks. Perez added four assists.
Freshman Chasey Santos scored 10 points in her start. The Cerritos native has been coming into her own in the Leopards' recent stretch of games. Point guard Jazzlyn Johnson grabbed nine rebounds, scored six points, and dished out three assists.
Cassandra Lacey led Redlands with 20 points, Alyssa Downs scored 15, and Kellis Dack finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Season Impact
Despite the loss, the Leopards are still very much in the hunt for a spot in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament. At 9-8 overall and 4-5 in SCIAC play, La Verne sits in a three-way tie for fifth place with both Redlands and Whittier.
Cal Lutheran, who the Leopards defeated 87-77 on Wednesday, is currently in fourth place with a 5-4 conference record and Chapman is in third place with a 6-3 SCIAC record. Only Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (8-1) and Pomona-Pitzer (8-1) have begun to separate themselves from the pack.
Next Game
The Leopards host Occidental next on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Leopards beat the Tigers 93-84 in Eagle Rock earlier this year. Garcia Silva scored 48 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in the win, a performance that earned her a spot on the D3hoops.com Team of the Week.
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