By Joe Perrino, Sports Information Assistant

ORANGE — Despite a strong second half, the La Verne Leopards fell 68-61 to the Chapman Panthers on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at Chapman.

The Leos outscored the Panthers 41-33 in the second half behind an outstanding double-double performance from Kayla Rubio. The senior center scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds on the way to her fifth double-double on the season.

Although the Leos played well in the final two frames, the game was decided in the first half.

A slow start offensively left the Leos with only eight points in the first quarter as opposed to Chapman's 18. The woes continued as Chapman outscored La Verne 17-12 in the second quarter. 

Rubio and her fellow senior, Chasey Santos, accounted for the Leopards' four buckets in the first frame. And while Rubio stayed consistent, tallying two more buckets in the quarter, Jaelynn Curley and Jazzlyn Johnson started heating up.

That fire would continue into the third quarter where Johnson would add seven points to her ledger, she finished with 15.

The Leos only had three players in double figures — Rubio, Johnson, and Monica Garcia Silva, who finished with 13. 

With the loss, La Verne fell to 11-13 and 4-10 in SCIAC play. While Chapman moves to 11-11 and 10-5.

The Leos still sit in the eighth spot in the SCIAC standings with just one game — and maybe the most important — remaining on the schedule. 

The Leos will take on Occidental in the ladder part of the men's and women's doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 19. With a win, the Leos will seal a spot in the SCIAC playoffs and will most likely travel to Redlands in the first round.