By Joe Perrino, Sports Information Assistant

LA VERNE, CA — In back-to-back games to start the SCIAC season, the Leos lost by a mere two points, but this time at the hands of the Occidental Tigers, Saturday Dec. 4.

After the men's basketball team fell at the hands of the Tigers in the game prior, 55-50, the women took to the court to avenge the loss. They jumped out to a five-point lead to open the first quarter, but went into the half trailing by three, 38-35.

For the entire second half the teams traded buckets, with the score notched within two points between the midway point of the third quarter, and 1:15 left in the game.

The Leos led for a short time at the start of the fourth. Senior Kayla Rubio scored five of her 10 points on a pair of shooting fouls, knocking down 3-4 freethrows, and netting a tough layup, in a 40 second span. At the end of her run the Leos led 64-62, but that would be their final lead of the game as Toni Thompson's 31 points were too much down the stretch.

Despite the loss, there were certainly some positive takeaways from this one. Freshman Marissa Howell continues to have a strong freshman campaign, scoring 17 off the bench for coach Pruitt's squad and knocking down eight of her nine freethrows. 

Senior Jazzlyn Johnson continues to tear up the offensive end of the floor. She finished with 21 points and six rebounds and is averaging almost 18 points per game so far this season. 

Rubio continues to be a tough presence in the paint. She added yet another double-double, her third of the year, after recording the first of her career against Bethesda Nov. 27, pushing her rebound per game average to 12.5.

And finally, senior transfer Mariah Lora finished with her career high of 10 points.

With the loss, the Leopards fall to 3-3, 0-2 SCIAC and the Tigers add their first conference win, 1-1, and move to 4-2 overall. 

The Leos look to bounce back Wednesday as they host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.