Feb. 4, 2006

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Lions held off a furious San Diego rally late in the second half to record a 61-58 win in WCC women's basketball action this afternoon in Gersten Pavilion. LMU led by as many as 23 points in the second half, but San Diego outscored LMU 28-8 over the final 12:32 of the game. However, the Lions converted key free throws in the final minute to preserve the victory and stay in first place in the conference. LMU is now 14-8 on the season with an 8-1 WCC record.

Early on, it appeared that LMU would cruise to an easy victory. The Lions pulled out to a 7-0 lead, and after USD made it a 7-4 game, LMU went on a 14-0 run to take a 21-4 lead at 10:10 on an Amanda Patton three-pointer. San Diego did not reach double digits until 4:41 when a layup by Sabine Loewe made it a 27-11 game. The teams traded baskets in the final four minutes and LMU took a 36-19 lead into the halftime break.

The Lions were unstoppable in the first half, shooting 52% from the field (13-for-25). Patton led LMU with eight points, including two three-pointers, while four other players had at least five points. Loewe led San Diego with eight points. The Toreros shot just 23.3% from the field (7-for-30).

The second half picked up where the first half ended. LMU scored the first four points of the second half to take a quick 40-19 lead. USD scored the next seven points to cut the lead to 40-26. The Lions responded and went on a 13-6 run, highlighted by an Ashlee Dunlap steal and layup to give LMU its biggest lead of the game, 53-30, at 12:32.

USD took a timeout after that layup, and scored the next eight points to cut the Lion lead to 53-38, at 8:35 on a fast break layup by Ashley Voisenet. A free throw by Ogoke stopped the USD run, but the Toreros kept coming, scoring another seven straight points to cut the LMU lead to single digits, 54-45. A layup by Jevay Grooms stopped the run again, but USD would not give up. An 8-0 run over the next 3:25 made it a 56-53 game with 1:45 remaining.

Neither team scored over the next 1:10, and a pair of free throws by Rachael Ziemann at 0:34 finally broke the scoring drought and gave LMU a 58-53 lead. Ogoke stole the ball on the next USD possession, and Bianca Ziemann hit a pair of free throws to put LMU up by seven points, 60-53 with 22 seconds remaining. Kelly Winther hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to 60-56 with 15 seconds remaining. The Lions turned the ball over on the inbounds play, but Winther missed another free throw attempt. Kiva Herman grabbed the offensive rebound, and was fouled on the put back attempt. She made both free throws to make it a 60-58 game with 7.3 seconds remaining.

Rachael Ziemann was fouled on the inbounds play, and converted a free throw to give LMU a 61-58 lead. A lane violation was called on the next play, giving USD the ball back with 6.0 seconds on the clock, down by three points. They brought the ball up, but missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime.

Turnovers were costly to LMU in the second half, as they made 14 in the final 20 minutes, and 21 for the game. The Toreros had 21 points off of LMU's 21 turnovers. The Lions also shot just 31.8% from the field in the second half, going 7-for-22. USD made 36.7% of its shots from the field in the second half, and had nine steals.

Rachael Ziemann led LMU with 16 points, and also grabbed five rebounds. Dunlap recorded her ninth double double of the year, and her second of the weekend, with 10 points and 11 rebounds. She also had two assists and two steals. Amanda DeCoud had six points to go along with six assists and two blocks.

Tiara Harris led USD with 16 points, and Polly Dong added 11 points, six assists and four steals. Loewe finished with 10 points. Kaila Mangrum and Voisenet led USD with seven rebounds.

LMU improves to 14-8 on the season, and remains in first place of the West Coast Conference with an 8-1 record. USD falls to 7-15 overall, and 2-7 in WCC play.

The Lions return to Gersten Pavilion next Saturday, hosting rival Pepperdine at 5:00pm. The game will also be broadcast live on CSTV.

- GO LIONS!-