Nov. 23, 2003

Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. - Senior guard Kate Murray poured in 21 points and Loyola Marymount shot 63 percent from the field in the first half to race past UNC Wilmington, 77-56, in women's college basketball Sunday at Trask Coliseum.

The Lions evened their record at 1-1 after gaining a split on their season-opening trip to North Carolina. LMU dropped its season opener at N.C. State, 84-50, Friday in Raleigh. The Seahawks fell to 0-1 after losing their season debut.

Murray connected on 8-of-15 shots from the floor and 4-of-4 at the free throw line and added eight rebounds to pace the Lions. Sophomore guard Rachael Ziemann chipped in 12 points and senior guard Raelen Self had 10 markers and six assists for LMU, who wound up shooting 49.1 percent overall and owned a commanding 45-26 on the boards.

After building a comfortable 48-26 lead at the break, the Lions cruised down the stretch. LMU pushed the lead to as many as 27 points while the Seahawks could get no closer than 19 points in the contest. The Lions used clutch long range shooting for the victory, canning 9-of-18 shots behind the 3-point arc.

Jennifer Kapper's 3-pointer from the right wing cut LMU's early lead to 9-8 with 14:30 remaining in the first period before the Lions reeled off 11 unanswered points to take control. Murray had six points in the run and Rachael Ziemann's trey in transition staked the Lions to a 20-8 cushion.

LMU enjoyed its biggest lead of the first half when Ziemman's twin sister, Bianca, nailed a 3-pointer at 1:29 to give the Lions a 45-21 advantage.

LMU's largest lead of the game, 27 points, came later with 15:20 remaining in the contest when the Lions went up, 57-30, on Bianca Zieman's jumper along the left baseline.

The Lions return home to entertain Providence Friday at 7 p.m. in an opening-round matchup of the Furama Thanksgiving Classic in Los Angeles. Also coming to Southern California for Thanksgiving is Arkansas and Oregon State.

GO LIONS!!!!