The University of Redlands women's basketball team held on
for a 71-69 victory over the visiting Leopards of the University of
La Verne in tonight's Southern California Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference (SCIAC) game in Currier Gym. With the win, the
Bulldogs snap their two-game losing skid.
Following a two-point deficit at the break, the Bulldogs rallied to
take the lead midway through the second half. However, a
back-and-forth battle ensued in which neither team really gained
control of the game.
Redlands managed a six-point lead with 5:57 remaining but the
Leopards refused to go away. They cut it to one with 2:34 left on
the clock when sophomore guard Clarissa Holz (Huntington Beach, CA)
knocked down back-to-back free throws.
Redlands responded with consecutive jumpers by sophomore forward
Courtney Carroll (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA) to make it a five-point
game at 69-64.
However, La Verne clawed its way back into the game again,
capitalizing on an and-one play by freshman guard Amanda Copas
(Rancho Cucamonga, CA) to move within two at 1:37.
Following consecutive missed shots by both teams, the Leopards tied
it up at 69 when Copas drove the basket for the lay-up with 22
seconds on the clock.
The game appeared headed for overtime as Redlands called a timeout
with 11 seconds remaining to set up the potentially game-winning
play.
Following the inbound pass, senior guard Meghan Yetman (Danville,
CA) took it to the hole for the clean lay-up and the win with one
second to go.
Redlands gained four players in double figures with junior Mariah
Barbetti-Cort (Ventura, CA) leading the team with 16 on 5-for-8
shooting. She racked up 12 points in only nine minutes of action
during the first half.
Carroll provided 13 points and six rebounds, while senior guard Ali
Bueno (San Jose, CA) contributed 13 points, which included three
baskets from long range. Yetman added 12 points and four assists
for the Bulldogs.
La Verne's Copas enjoyed a solid showing with 27 points and
six rebounds. Holz added 16 points and junior guard Ashley Paul
(Glendora, CA) chipped in 11 points.
The Bulldogs (14-5, 6-2 SCIAC) remain in third place behind a
two-way tie for first place in the SCIAC. They look forward to
hosting Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in
Currier Gym.
