LOS ANGELES — Emily Leonard led a balanced attack with eight points and the Occidental women's basketball team played excellent defense in a 50-42 win over St. Olaf in the Caltech-Oxy Classic at Rush Gymnasium on Friday.

The Tigers improve to 3-1 on the season. 

Oxy held St. Olaf to just 26 percent shooting and forced 15 turnovers. Leonard and Erin Matsumotoled the defensive effort, with Triana Anderson adding good on ball defense and Tala Ismailbothering people with her length.

"We locked in defensively and we were able to withstand any runs," Oxy head coach Anahit Aladzhanyan said. 

Oxy held St. Olaf scoreless for 7 minutes, 6 seconds during a stretch that started midway through the second quarter and continued well into the third quarter. 

The Tigers took their biggest lead of the game when Leonard made a jumper, increasing the advantage to 44-28 with 6:27 left in the third. Oxy's offense went quiet for the remainder of the game, but its defense stayed strong.

Cheldon Alcantara chipped in seven points for Oxy, and Shariah Green, Dru Ishibashi and Kendahl Wallis-Lang each added six.

Makenna Ash led St. Olaf with a game-high 10 points.

Oxy is back in action against Macalester at Caltech at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Tigers play their next home game against Northern N.M. on Dec. 3 at 3 p.m.