SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- The La Verne women's basketball team had a 4-point edge at halftime but went ice cold in the second half in a 71-51 loss to UC Santa Cruz on Saturday at UCSC Holiday Classic.

La Verne (0-4) shot 48.1 percent in the first half but went just 7 of 29 (24.1 percent) in the second half and was outscored 40-16 in the half. Compounding the matter, the Leopards committed 10 turnovers after the intermission that turned into 12 points on the other end for the Banana Slugs.

The Leopards went up by nine points on a layup by Alena Koay with 1:54 left in the first half but the Banana Slugs closed the period on a 7-2 run to close the gap and kept the mometum going into the second half. UC Santa Cruz scored nine unanswered points in the third quarter to take a 53-41 lead.

Noelle Cobb led La Verne's efforts with 10 points and six rebounds. Brianna Bishop had nine points, four rebounds and three assists. Karli Kato had eight points off the bench.

Katie Young led all players with 14 points for UC Santa Cruz (2-4). Michelle Poole collected a game-high 13 rebounds while scoring eight points.

The Leopards return to action tomorrow at 2 p.m. against Southern Oregon.