LA VERNE, Calif. — The Leopards took the lead at the end of the first quarter, allowed just one goal in the second half, and the University of La Verne women's water polo team scored a commanding 10-6 win over the Whittier College Poets Wednesday evening.
Season Impact: The Leopards gain an important win in SCIAC play, improving to 1-1 in the conference. La Verne moves their overall record to 2-6. Whittier falls to 2-8 overall and 0-3 in the SCIAC.
Jassmine Kezman and Jasmine Bustamante each had big games offensively. The pair each scored four goals in the win. Kezman drew five exclusions and added a pair of assists and steals.
Shelby Garcia had a huge game in the cage for La Verne. The sophomore racked up 14 saves in the match, tying her season high. She totaled six second half saves to help hold the Poets to just one goal in the final 16 minutes.
Emily Mena scored twice for La Verne including one goal with 3:21 left in the third quarter to give La Verne a 10-5 win heading into the final period. She also drew one exclusion.
After Whittier's Kendly Riley evened the game 4-4 just 17 seconds into the second quarter, La Verne went on a 6-1 run over the next 11 minutes to put the game away.
Yuri Ujifusa finished with two steals and Ashley Bennet added one of her own. Victoria Mezack drew one exclusion.
Riley and Anastacia Gonzalez each scored twice for Whittier.
Next Game: The Leopards look for back-to-back wins this Saturday when they travel to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps to face the Athenas at 11 a.m. at Axelrod Pool.
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