The UC Santa Cruz women's basketball team played the University of La Verne Saturday afternoon and lost 60-50.
 
The game started with La Verne in the lead 5-0 before Alexa Litchev made a jump shot for UC Santa Cruz's first score. The Banana Slugs had great defense with a steal from Amanda Inserra that set up an outstanding play (7:33) and a block from Lilli Hammons (2:10). Alyssa Jackson made many beautiful plays with a drive making the score 8-4 (6:28) and a three-pointer making the score 10-7 (3:59). However, the Leopards were able to finish the first quarter in the lead with the score of 16-9.
 
Talysha Wilkerson started the second quarter with high intensity in defense and gained a steal five seconds in. It was a tough quarter for the Banana Slugs, but Hammons, Litchev, and Celine Castaneda were putting the shots in to catch up to the Leopards. There was a great play made with Castaneda faking the shot and passing the ball right between two defenders and Hammons making the shot (23-18, 4:19). Yet, the Leopards finished the second quarter in the lead 29-20.
 
The third quarter started with a driving layup from Ariel Anderson. Then, Litchev made a jump shot making the score 34-24 (7:53), and right after had a fabulous steal . Anderson had a perfect block ensuring that the Leopards would not get a shot. The Banana Slugs tried to come back up with layups from Hammons (37-35, 4:07) and Litchev (39-37, 2:34) getting them to within two. The third quarter ended with the Leopards still in the lead 41-38.
 
The fourth quarter started with a jumper from Inserra making the score 43-40. After a Leopards run, Wilkerson's driving layup made the score 52-45 (4:56). The Leopards, however, were able to hold off the Banana Slugs and win this game.
 
Litchev had the team high with 11 points, along with two steals, four assists, and five rebounds. Anderson and Wilkerson each scored 7 points and each had a block. The Banana Slugs defense was outstanding with 14 steals, led by a season-high four from Inserra.
 
The Banana Slugs (4-4) will next play against Menlo College (3-3) on Wednesday, December 6th at 7:00 PM at Kaiser Permanente Arena.