LA VERNE, CA — Jazzlyn Johnson and Dejanee Gill led the Leopards offensively, Brittany McDaniel played outstanding defensively, and the University of La Verne women's basketball team had a chance late to take the lead in an important game against Pomona-Pitzer.

But the Sagehens made a clutch three-pointer with just over a minute remaining and played tough defense to beat the Leopards 72-69.

Season Impact

With the loss, the Leopards fall to 11-6 overall and 4-5 in conference action. The Sagehens improve to 10-8 overall and 5-4 in the SCIAC. La Verne, Pomona-Pitzer, and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps entered Wednesday night in a three-way tie four fourth place in the SCIAC with a 4-4 conference mark. After the Athenas 73-45 drubbing of Cal Lutheran, CMS (12-6, 5-4 SCIAC) and Pomona-Pitzer remain in a tie for fourth while the Leopards fall to sixth place.

Final Two Minutes

After trailing by nine points midway through the fourth quarter, the Leopards went on a 13-4 run and tied the game 67-67 when Gill drove down the lane and finished with a layup. But the game wouldn't stay tied long as Pomona-Pitzer's Madison Quan responded on the other end of the floor with a three-pointer with just 1:08 on the clock to put the Sagehens back on top.

Johnson made it a one-point game on La Verne's next possession with a layup of her own, and the Leopards forced a turnover to give themselves a chance to take the lead. But a blocked shot by Amara Chidom and subsequent La Verne turnover handed the ball back to the Sagehens. Quan gave her team a cushion when she went to the line and made a pair of free throws to make it a three-point game.

The Leopards had a chance to tie the game with the final seconds ticking off the clock, but Alondra Ponce's heave fell short.

Stat Leaders

Johnson led the Leopards with 22 points to go with five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Johnson has scored at least 17 points in three of her last four games. Gill nearly finished with a double-double, totaling 21 points with nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

McDaniel caused headaches for the Sagehens in the low post. The senior blocked a season-high seven shots in the game to go with three rebounds and a steal. McDaniel ranks third in the SCIAC with two blocks per game and fifth with 24 total blocks. The Carson native scored 11 points and led the Leopards with four assists.

The Sagehens were led by Quan's 23 points and five rebounds.

Next Game

The Leopards return to the court this Saturday when they travel to Pasadena to take on the Caltech Beavers at 4 p.m.