LA VERNE, CA — Marissa Howell drilled a long jumper with two seconds left in overtime and the University of La Verne women's basketball team completed a 22-point comeback in a thrilling 69-67 win against the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens on Saturday in Claremont.
After the Sagehens took the early advantage in overtime, La Verne guard
Annie Trinh knocked down back-to-back jumpers, the second from the elbow with one minute left to give the Leopards a 67-66 lead. Pomona-Pitzer guard Charlize Andaya put the Sagehens back on top with 16.2 seconds left in overtime when she made one of two free throw attempts to tie the score, 67-67.
That set up Howell's game-winner. With
Jasmine Prajitno inbounding, forward
Alyssa Smith set a screen to get Howell open who grabbed the pass and moved to her left. She gave a slight pump at the three-point line to draw in the defender, pivoted forward, and lofted a perfect shot to put La Verne ahead. The Sagehens couldn't get off a shot in the final two seconds. Howell is no stranger to big-time shots. She sank a three-pointer in the final seconds at Chapman this year to force overtime.
The Leopards needed a massive effort to force extra time. The Sagehens led 56-34 with 8:51 left in regulation. But then the Leopards flipped the script, closing the quarter out on a 28-6 run to force extra time. With 1.9 seconds left on the clock and Pomona-Pitzer winning 62-60,
Christen Ziska sent a perfect pass to Smith in the paint who floated a shot in as time expired, sending the game to overtime. La Verne forced eight four-quarter turnovers, converting them into 17 points to close the gap. The Leopards got hot from deep, making five of seven three-pointers in the fourth.
Smith and Howell were responsible for 39 of La Verne's 69 points. Smith scored 22 points and picked up eight rebounds while Howell added 17 points. Ziska added her first double-double as a Leopard with 12 rebounds and 12 points, all off three-pointers. Trinh nabbed four rebounds and scored four timely points for the Leopards.
Guard Sara Chicco led the Sagehens with 20 points. Guard Jadyn Lee scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
With the win, La Verne snapped a four-game skid and improved to 4-11 overall and 1-4 in the SCIAC. Pomona Pitzer moved to 8-6 overall and 6-4 in the conference.
The Leopards hope to build off this win when they face the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas this Monday at 7 p.m. in Claremont.
