LA VERNE, CA — The University of La Verne women's basketball team knocked down 14 three-pointers and led from end to end, defeating the visiting Lewis & Clark Pioneers 79-54.

Season Impact

The Leopards win their third-straight and eight of their last nine games to improve to 8-2 overall. The Pioners fall to 1-8 overall.

Danger From Distance

The Leopards finished the game with 14 three-pointers from seven different players. The Leopards, who entered the game ranked in the top-10 in NCAA Division III in both three-pointers per game (10.4) and total three-pointers (94), lead the SCIAC with 10.8 makes from beyond the arc per game. The Leopards' 108 total three-pointers are 35 more than the next closest SCIAC opponent.

Stat Leaders

Three Leopards finished in double figures led by Jazzlyn Johnson's 15 points. Johnson dished out a season-high five assists to go with two rebounds and two steals.

Alondra Ponce shot 3-4 from beyond the arc to finished with 13 points, two rebounds, and a steal.

POSTGAME: Alondra Ponce finished with 13 points and 3 three-pointers in the @ULVLeopardsWBB win #GoLeos #d3hoops pic.twitter.com/o55wHoJCUm

— La Verne Leopards (@ULVAthletics) December 30, 2019

Dejanee Gill was dangerous in the lane on her way to 13 points, nine rebounds, one assist, and one block.

Madison Hotchkiss and Casey Kuramoto each knocked down three three-pointers and each totaled nine points and three rebounds. Kuramoto added three assists and a steal while Hotchkiss dealt two assists and grabbed two steals.

Destinee Garcia totaled seven points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Lei Talaro handed out three assists.

How It Happened

The Leopards showcased their range early in the game led by a pair of threes from Kuramoto and another from Ponce to take the opening 11-0 lead just under two and a half minutes into the game. The Leopards scored nine of their first 11 points off Pioneer turnovers.

La Verne continued to show their danger from beyond the arc in the opening quarter, sinking six three-pointers in the first quarter, the last coming from Garcia to put the Leopards up 24-7. The Leopards forced eight first-quarter turnovers.

The Pioneers responded with a 10-0 run to end the first quarter and open the second highlighted by a three-pointer from Delsie Johnson to cut La Verne's lead to 26-20. Jessica Cerne followed it up with back-to-back threes to get the Pioneers to within two points of the Leopards' lead with 6:02 left in the second quarter.

La Verne responded with three-straight three-pointers of their own by Johnson and two from Ponce to extend their lead to 38-26. The Leopards entered the fourth quarter up 65-48 and held the Pioneers scoreless in the period until there was just 2:16 left to play.

The Leopards forced 22 turnovers in the win.

Next Game

The Leopards return to SCIAC action when they host the Caltech Beavers on Saturday, January 4 at 4 p.m.