LA VERNE, CA — The University of La Verne Women's basketball team faced off against the visiting University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders on Monday morning in the tents, fighting hard but ultimately falling to the Crusaders 78-65.
 
Alyssa Smith led the Leopards' offense with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Jossy Calizo and Zaria Gomez chipped in 14 and 12 points each. 

After a tight first period that had the Leopards trailing by just four, they surged ahead in the second quarter, outscoring the Crusaders 22–15 to take a 38–35 lead into halftime.

The third quarter was capped by a Zaria Gomez three-pointer, one of 26 total threes between the two teams. La Verne knocked down 15 while UMHB hit 11.

The Leopards led by as many as six in the third, but the Crusaders grabbed momentum, tying the game at 50-apiece before taking over the rest of the way and closing out the win.

La Verne will be back in action when they host the Nelson University Lions this Saturday in The Tents at 2 PM.