REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Basketball team (11-11, 7-7 SCIAC) held a lead in the second quarter against the University of La Verne Saturday night in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action inside Currier Gym, but would see the Leopards pull away for the 71-53 win.

Aliyah Anderson (Oceanside, CA) got things started with a three off an AJ Wick (Henderson, NV) assist on the opening possession. Leaya Mckinney (Sedalia, CO) then scored in the paint off a Kayden Sanders (Nipomo, CA) assist, and with scores from Colbi Zorich (Kenmore, WA) and Wick the Bulldogs led by eight, 14-6, in the first five minutes.

Krista Karban (Murrieta, CA) would put an exclamation point on the first quarter as she made a jumper in the paint as time expired off an inbound pass from Zorich as UR led 20-13.

As great as the first 10 minutes were, the next six would go the opposite way as the Maroon and Grey were held scoreless, while the Leopards would score 21 consecutive points putting the Bulldogs down 14 at the break.  

La Verne made a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 16 to begin the third before the Bulldogs would go on a 13-4 run cutting the lead to seven, 44-37.  

Two minutes later the lead was back at 13 for La Verne, but the final six points of the quarter were scored by Redlands as Mckinney found Zorich for a jumper followed by Anderson for a three and a free-throw as a 16-point deficit was only seven, 50-43, with 10 minutes still to play.

Zorich started the fourth making one of two free throws, but over the final 8:45 the Leopards would hold a double-digit lead as the shorthanded Bulldogs dropped back to .500 in SCIAC play.

Mckinney missed a double-double by two points as she finished with eight points and career-high 12 rebounds in only her second career start and her first in three months.

Redlands closes out their home schedule this Wednesday, February 14 at 7:00 p.m. inside Currier as they host California Institute of Technology in a must win game to stay in contention for the SCIAC Tournament.