Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

LA VERNE, Calif. – Monica Salazar scored a game-high 19 points and Kourtney Zilbert recorded a double-double but it wasn't enough as the Leopards held off the Poets in the SCIAC opener, 61-52, on Saturday night.

The Leopards led the entire second half but the Poets (6-6, 0-1 SCIAC) were able to get as close as two points. Salazar made it a 42-40 game at the 12:47 mark and Brittany Aranda knocked down a three-pointer at 8:14 but La Verne answered both Poet buckets with a deep ball of its own.

Whittier remained just two possessions from the lead; however, an Ashley Paul jumper pushed ULV's advantage to seven points and forced a Whittier timeout with 3:18 left in regulation. Salazar came out of the break and knocked down one of her game-high four three's to trim the lead to 54-50 but La Verne answered one more time with a long range jumper.

Despite Whittier's effort, timely foul shooting down the stretch preserved the win for La Verne.

Zilbert finished the evening with 10 points and 17 rebounds, Aranda scored eight points and Amanda Apgar poured in seven points off the bench in the loss.

Whittier shot 32 percent from the field and was 8-of-23 from deep. La Verne held a 46-39 advantage on the glass.

The Poets were without starting point guard Keimi Lew and starting post Tina Merlino.

WC returns to action on Thursday, January 13, as they hit the road to take on Pomona-Pitzer.