REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands women's basketball team (17-7, 12-4) lost 82-75 to first place La Verne on Saturday evening inside Currier Gym after leading by 18 at the half. The Bulldogs honored their lone senior, Julia Balestreri (Pleasanton, CA) who had a double-double off the bench with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

After going scoreless for more than two minutes, the Bulldogs quickly took an eight-point lead, 10-2, at the 5:51 mark after Colbi Zorich (Kenmore, WA) hit a pair of jump shots, Alyssa Downs (South San Francisco, CA) made a three, and Chyanne Pagkalinawan (Valencia, CA) converted on a fast break following her steal.

The Leopards got within one, 10-9, but the Bulldogs ended the quarter on a 13-4 run as they led by 10, 23-13. Six of the 13 points came from Balestreri.

La Verne put pressure on the Bulldogs in the first three minutes of the second quarter as the cut the deficit to six, 28-22. Over those final seven minutes of the half, Redlands' defense only surrendered eight points while scoring 20. Balestreri was responsible for 10 points and six rebounds as she played the entire quarter and helped the Bulldogs build their 18-point lead, 48-30.

Just like the second quarter, the Leopards opened the third with hot shooting, scoring 10 of the first 12 points, narrowing the deficit to 10, 50-40, at the 7:05 mark. Much like she has done her whole career, Downs made a big three 14 seconds after La Verne got within striking distance.

With 3:24 remaining in the quarter, La Verne cut their deficit to single-digits, 55-46, for the first time since the beginning of the second quarter. The Bulldogs, though, responded with a 9-5 run thanks to five points from Carly Hicks (Portland, OR) as the Bulldogs held an 11-point advantage, 64-53, after 30 minutes of play.

In the opening three and a half minutes of the final quarter, La Verne again threatened Redlands, this time getting the deficit down to a single possession, 66-63. The Bulldogs did not waver, leading by five, 72-67, with 4:31 remaining in the game.

Over the next four minutes the Leopards took control of the game for the first time as they went on a 12-5 run, taking their largest lead of the game at seven, 79-72, with only 29 second left. During the run the Leopards made seven free throws while the Bulldogs did not have a single attempt the entire quarter.

Downs led the Bulldogs offensively with 18 points. Downs, Aliyah Anderson (Oceanside, CA), and Pagkalinawan all had four assists as the Redlands assisted on 20 of their 29 field goals, their fourth 20 plus assist game and their first loss when reaching that mark.

The Bulldogs regular season comes to an end as they prepare to face Claremont-Mudd-Scripps for the second time in eight day in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament Semifinal this coming Thursday, February 23 at 7:00 p.m. inside Currier Gym.