LA VERNE — The University of La Verne women's basketball team fought hard against the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs, but fell 77-61. Alyssa Smith and Kaylee Shimoda scored a combined thirty points on Saturday morning. 

Smith finished with a double-double in back-to-back games, totaling 16 points and 10 rebounds. Shimoda, finished with 14 points off four three-pointers.

The first quarter was fast and furious for the Banana Slugs, taking a 28-14 lead. Shimoda knocked down a three-pointer to get the ball rolling for the Leopards. The second quarter was a battle. The Leos stepped up on the defensive end in the second quarter, holding UCSC to just 12 points. But La Verne couldn't get into an offensive rhythm, scoring only 12 points of their own, led by three buckets from Smith and two from Justine Prajitno.

In the third quarter, Prajitno continued to step up and support her team with her point-scoring. The Leopards trailed 59-44 at the start of the fourth. Defensively, the Leopards provided immense pressure, forcing seven turnovers in the quarter, but they couldn't close the game.

The Leopards will be back in action on Monday, November 17th at home at 11 a.m.