LA VERNE CA – In a fight until the finish, the University of La Verne women's basketball team edged out the Cal Lutheran Regals, 57-54. With first place atop the SCIAC on the line, the Leopards pounced on rebounds and clawed for points against a scrappy Regal defense.

Junior guard Marissa Howell matched senior forward Chiara Brown with a game-high 15 points, but it was Howell who delivered the clutch shots for La Verne throughout the night. She stole the show after halftime, knocking down three consecutive triples and scoring 11 points in the third to send the Leopards into the fourth quarter ahead by one.

There were four lead changes in the fourth quarter alone, including a 51-51 tie headed into the final two minutes. After a huge Regals' and-one for a 54-53 lead, first-year forward Alyssa Smith drew a foul for a chance at bonus shots. She nailed both for the lead.

With less than five seconds remaining, the Regals fouled Howell to put La Verne's sharpest free-throw shooter at the line. Howell sank both of hers, giving the Leopards a three-point lead, and La Verne provided the stop to seal the deal.

"I was very proud of us," Howell said. "We knew this was a big game coming in, and we just kept pushing and giving 100 percent effort, and we came out with a [win]."

With the victory, La Verne moves ahead to a tie for first place in the SCIAC with Occidental, with a 0.5 game lead over Whittier College and Cal Lutheran. The Leopards are now 13-5 on the season, owners of a 9-3 conference record.

With five games remaining on the schedule, the Leopards will play their final non-conference game of the regular season against UC Santa Cruz on Saturday, February 3 inside the Tents.