Feb. 23, 2006
Box Score
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The LMU women's basketball team outscored Santa Clara 56-26 in the second half en route to an 89-74 victory in WCC action this evening in Gersten Pavilion. The win puts LMU into a three-way tie for first place in the WCC with just one game to go. Four LMU players scored in double digits, and Ashlee Dunlap and Valerie Ogoke both recorded double doubles for the Lions. The Lions were down by 19 points early in the second half, but outscored Santa Clara 56-22 over the final 18 minutes of the game.
The Lions (16-10, 10-3) started well, taking a 5-0 lead, but the Broncos roared back and scored the next nine points. SCU (16-10, 10-3) maintained the lead for the next eight minutes, but a layup by Ogoke at 10:17 gave the Lions a 20-19 lead. However, Kayla Huss answered with a three-pointer to give Santa Clara the lead back. A jumper by Dunlap tied it again, and a layup by Jevay Grooms put LMU up again, but Santa Clara outscored LMU 26-9 over the final 9:14 of the first half to take a 48-33 lead into the break.
Huss was unstoppable for Santa Clara in the first half, making three three-pointers from behind the NBA line and had 19 points for Santa Clara in the first half. Dunlap was strong for the Lions, scoring 12 points and pulling down six rebounds in the first half. Santa Clara shot 53.3% from the field in the first 20 minutes, while LMU shot just 36.1%.
The second half seemed to be a continuation of the first half, with Santa Clara hitting the first two shots to take a 52-33 lead at 18:15. However, the Lions turned up the intensity for the final 18 minutes of the game.
LMU scored six straight points to cut the lead to 13 points. A three-pointer by Huss, her only basket of the second half, extended the Santa Clara lead back to 16 points, but the Lions continued to apply the pressure. After a jumper by Ashley Gonnerman made it a 57-41 SCU lead with 14:33 remaining, the Lions scored eight straight points to cut the lead to single digits. A layup by Bianca Ziemann, and back to back three-pointers by Amanda Patton cut the SCU lead to 57-49.
Patton's second three-pointer gives her 63 for the season, and ties the LMU single season record for three-pointers. That record was set last season by Rachael Ziemann.
After the Broncos called a timeout, Kasey Monteith hit a jumper to extend the lead back to 10 points, 59-49, but the Broncos would never lead by double digits again in the game. The Lions responded with a Grooms layup, and a jumper by Bianca Ziemann. The Lions chipped away at Santa Clara's lead and finally tied the game on a pair of free throws by Ogoke at 8:17.
Monteith responded with another jumper to give the Broncos a 64-42 lead at 8:04, and the score remained the same as the teams traded missed baskets. A foul shot by Rachael Ziemann cut the SCU lead to one, and a layup by Ogoke gave LMU its first lead of the second half, 65-64, at 6:13. On that play, Monteith committed her fifth foul of the game.
The Lions kept up the intensity, outscoring Santa Clara 24-10 over the final six minutes of the game. LMU was unstoppable in the paint, scoring 44 points, and taking advantage of Santa Clara's foul trouble in the second half. The Broncos committed 18 fouls in the second half, while LMU had just nine team fouls.
Three Lions finished with at least 16 points- Dunlap with 19, Bianca Ziemann with 18 and Ogoke with 16. In addition, Patton added 10 points, and Rachael Ziemann and Grooms each added nine points. LMU controlled the glass, outrebounding SCU 49-38, and had 19 offensive rebounds. Dunlap led all players with 13 boards, and Ogoke matched her career-high with 12. Ogoke and Dunlap each recorded two blocks. DeCoud had an impressive all-around line- eight points, a career-high seven assists, five rebounds, three steals and one block.
The Lions must win on Saturday against Saint Mary's to secure at least a share of the WCC regular season title. In order to wrap up the title to themselves and the #1 seed to the WCC Tournament, the Lions also need the Broncos to lose at Pepperdine, and Gonzaga to lose at San Francisco. All three teams are tied atop the conference standings with a 10-3 WCC record.
Saturday's game is also Senior Day, and LMU will honor its four seniors- Jevay Grooms, Jenni Smith, Bianca Ziemann and Rachael Ziemann- in a ceremony before the game. The game is scheduled to tip off at 2:00pm.
- GO LIONS! -
