LA VERNE, Calif. – A 15-point performance by Ashley Jacobs (So., Waimanalo. Hawaii) led five Pacific players who scored in double figures as the Boxers put together a great shooting night in a 71-68 victory over La Verne in women's basketball action at the Frantz Athletic Court.
Jacobs shot 6 of 10 from the field as the Boxers (3-6) shot 55.3 percent for the contest (26-47), including a red hot 63.6 percent from three-point range. Kristen Corrales (So., Waimanalo, Hawaii) added 13 points while Brittney Anderson (Jr., Missoula, Mont.) scored a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Paige Jensen (So., Bemidji, Minn.) added a double-double of her own of 10 points and 13 rebounds and Annette Highley (Fr., Juneau, Alaska) also scored 10.
La Verne (2-6) shot just 31.3 percent from the field (20-64) and 7 of 34 from three-point range, but managed to stay in the game by forcing 29 Pacific turnovers. Ashley Paul led the Leopards with 17 points while Mayra Duenas added 13.
Pacific spent most of the first half back battling from behind as they missed four of their first six shots. The Leopards opened up a 17-6 lead on a three-point play by Raphaelle Buenafe at the 11:55 mark. The Boxers then scored the next seven points, buoyed by three-pointers from Highley and Sarah Smith (Jr., Kendrick, Idaho) to cut the lead to three midway through the period.
The seven unanswered points was the start of a 17-4 run, which culminated on a Highley lay-in that gave the Boxers a 23-21 lead with 5:43 left. La Verne eventually took the lead back, but an Anderson lay-in just before time expired allowed Pacific a slim 33-32 halftime lead.
Pacific opened the second half on a 14-5 run, ending on a Corrales free throw at the 14:53 mark that gave the Boxers a 12-point lead at 48-36. The Leopards managed to come back within four points on Paul's lay-up with 11:55 to go, but Anderson hit a lay-in on the Boxers' next possession to open another 12-3 run that gave Pacific their biggest lead of the game, 62-49, with 8:29 to go.
La Verne slowly cut down their deficit to make it a game again late. Amanda Copas brought the Leopards to within one with her lay-in with three seconds left, and immediately fouled to try and get the ball back. Corrales responded by hitting both free throws and the Boxers did not allow the Leopards another look at the basket.
With the victory, Pacific finishes their southern California road trip with a 2-1 record. The Boxers will now take two weeks off for the Christmas break and return to competition on Tues., Jan. 4, at Northwest Christian.