LA VERNE, CA — Alyssa Smith scored a career-high 36 points and the University of La Verne women's basketball team never trailed on the way to an 84-71 win over Whitworth Monday afternoon.

Smith led the Leopards with 11 rebounds to record her sixth double-double of the season. She is tied for ninth in the country in double-doubles and 15th with 116 rebounds. Smith is averaging 13.8 points per game and 11.6 rebounds per game. She also finished a perfect 8-8 from the line with two steals and three assists.

Annie Trinh also posted a career-high performance. Trinh's 27 points, seven made three-pointers, and 10 made field goals were all career-highs. Trinh grabbed nine rebounds and added two assists. 

The Leopards got off to a hot start thanks to three makes from beyond the arc in the first quarter, one each from Smith, Christen Ziska, and the final one from Trinh to put La Verne up 10 entering the second. La Verne kept rolling in the second, taking a 12-2 run to go up by 20 midway through the period. 

Ziska gave the Leopards their biggest lead of the game early in the third when she drained a three to extend the difference to 48-25. The Pirates began to mount a comeback and cut the deficit to just eight points entering the fourth. But the Leopards settled in the final frame aided by three three-pointers from Trinh to put the game away.

La Verne shot 43 percent from three-point range. 

Ziska tallied eight points and Marissa Howell led La Verne with eight assists.

The Leopards improved to 3-7 and the Pirates dropped to 3-4.

Next Game 

La Verne returns to action on Monday, December 30 with a 5 p.m. game against Emmanuel College in The Tents.