Boxscore

Senior guard Amanda Copas became the ninth player in the history of the University of La Verne women's basketball program to reach 1,000 career points as the Leopards topped Whittier College 98-77 in SCIAC action Thursday night at Frantz Athletic Court.

In the process, La Verne halted a four-game losing skid to improve to 11-10 overall and 8-4 in conference play.

Entering the contest needing just four points to reach the milestone, Copas hit a pair of free throws with 2:17 left in the first half to reach the 1,000-point club.  She finished the game with 10 points and was one of four Leopards to post double figures in scoring.

"As a coach, there is nothing better than to see a young woman who has genuinely worked for everything she has received reach a milestone as impressive as 1,000 career points," said Leopard head coach Matt Rogers.  "When you look at the fact that she is pounding on the door of the career program record for assists, steals, and 3-pointers made, the 1,000-point marker is just the tip of the iceberg of a very balanced and distinguished career."

Brittni Tapia and Leslie Steele each connected on six three-pointers to post 18 points apiece for the Leos while Lindsey Foster tallied 17 points.  Riki Murakami tallied a game-high 10 assists while Kayla Cribbs pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. 

Led by Tapia and Steele, La Verne finished with 15 treys on the evening.  Additionally, the Leos forced 37 turnovers to register 35 points off Whittier miscues.

Whittier (5-17, 2-11 SCIAC) was led in scoring by Casceal Swaggard and Dannika Navales-Lugt who each totaled 14 points.  Ashley Genie recorded a double-double for the Poets with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Prior to Copas, the last Leopard players to reach 1,000 career points occurred two seasons ago when both Ashley Paul and Emily Carrillo attained the milestone during the 2010-11 campaign.

La Verne continues SCIAC play Saturday as it hits the road to take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in a 5:00 pm tip-off.