Jan. 12, 2006

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The LMU women's basketball team led by as many as 26 points in the second half and held on for a 77-66 win over Portland this evening in WCC action at Gersten Pavilion. Three players scored in double digits for LMU, led by Amanda DeCoud's 18 points and Amanda Patton's 17 points. LMU remains in first place in the WCC with the victory and is now the only undefeated team in the conference. The Lions improve to 9-7 overall with their sixth straight win, and 3-0 in conference play.

After the Pilots (3-13, 0-3) pulled out to a 12-6 lead in the opening minutes, it would be all LMU from that point. A three-pointer by Patton tied the game at 13:07, and the Lions took their first lead of the game at 12:34 on a Valerie Ogoke layup. Portland tied the game at 20-20 at the 10 minute mark, but the Lions outscored the Pilots 24-6 over the final ten minutes of the first half to take a 44-26 lead into the break.

Patton led all players with 12 points in the first half, including four three-pointers. Ogoke added eight points, and Ashlee Dunlap led all players with six rebounds. The Lions shot 52.9% from the field in the first half, while Portland shot 46.2%. Rachel Warren led Portland with eight points and three blocks, and Whitney Grant added seven points in the first 20 minutes of play.

LMU would continue to keep the intensity on, going ahead by 21 points at 12:13 on a layup by Jevay Grooms. The Lion lead grew to as many as 26 points, 67-41, at 9:45 on a pair of free throws by Ogoke. DeCoud's jumper at 9:11 turned out to be LMU's last field goal of the game. The Lions led 69-44 with over nine minutes remaining in the game, but went cold from the field. The Lions scored their last eight points of the game on free throws, but the Pilots were not able to get any closer than 10 points.

The Lions shot just 20% from the field in the second half, making just six field goals. However, LMU was able to convert on 23 of 30 free throw attempts, while Portland had just 12 attempts, making nine. The Lions controlled the boards, outrebounding Portland 43-34. LMU forced 22 Portland turnovers, recording 12 steals on the night. Portland had an impressive 12 blocks in the game, including five by Warren.

Patton had another strong shooting game, finishing with 17 points including five three-pointers. DeCoud tied her career-high with 18 points and added five assists and two steals. Ogoke had another strong game, adding 10 points and three steals. Rachael Ziemann is closer to breaking the LMU career record for three-pointers. With one tonight, she now needs just two three-pointers to tie, and three to break the record of 118. She finished with nine points, two assists and three steals.

LMU has now won six straight games, and eight of its last nine contests. With Gonzaga's loss to Pepperdine tonight, LMU is now alone atop the WCC standings with a 3-0 record. The Lions will host the Zags on Saturday afternoon at Gersten Pavilion at 2:00pm.

- GO LIONS! -