Dec. 11, 2005

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Amanda DeCoud scored a career-high 17 points to help lead LMU to a 79-52 win over UC Santa Barbara in women's basketball action at Gersten Pavilion this afternoon. LMU led by as many as 30 points in the contest, shooting 56.4% from the field. Rachael Ziemann and Jevay Grooms added 11 points each for the Lions.

UCSB (1-6) opened by scoring the first five points of the game, but that would be its only lead of the game. The Lions (2-6) scored 15 straight points, with DeCoud scoring nine of those points. The Gauchos were unable to stop the Lion attack, as LMU pulled ahead to a 26-8 lead at 9:35 in the first half on another fastbreak layup by DeCoud. A DeCoud jumper gave the Lions a 30-10 lead at 8:21, but the Gauchos would fight back. Kat Suderman's free throws at 3:29 cut the LMU lead to 12, 34-22, but the Lions went on a 9-2 run to end the first half and take a 43-24 lead into the break.

DeCoud's 15 first half points led all scorers. Rachael Ziemann had seven points in the first half, as LMU shot 60% from the field. The Lions limited the Gauchos to just 32.1% shooting in the first half, and outrebounded UCSB, 24-12. Jessica Wilson had siz points in the first half to lead UCSB.

The second half was much like the first. The Lions controlled the flow of the game and led by at least 20 points for the entire second half. Grooms' jumper at 12:57 gave LMU its first 30 point lead of the game, as LMU more than doubled UCSB's point total, 56-26.

The large lead gave LMU a chance to show its depth, as every healthy player saw at least seven minutes of action. No one played more than 24 minutes, and all but one player scored.

LMU shot 52% in the second half, and finished by shooting 56.4% for the game. The Gauchos continued to struggle from the field, making just 28.6% of their shots in the second half, shooting 30.2% from the field for the game.

DeCoud led all players with 17 points, and Jenna Green led UCSB with 16. The Lions outrebounded UCSB 42-33 for the game, led by Ashlee Dunlap with seven.

Valerie Ogoke had a big night in the paint, finishing with a career-high five blocks. She also added five rebounds, four points and an assist in just 12 minutes of action. Dunlap and Amanda Patton added eight points for LMU. DeCoud and Rachael Ziemann each made three steals for the Lions.

This win marks LMU's second straight over UCSB, as LMU secured a thrilling 59-58 win over the Gauchos last year in Gersten Pavilion.

LMU returns to action next Saturday, traveling down the 405 freeway to face Long Beach State at 2:00pm. The game will be broadcast live on Lions' All-Access at www.LMULions.com.

-GO LIONS!-