Jan. 29, 2009

Box Score

Los Angeles, CA - LMU used a 28-0 run bridging halftime to overcome an early deficit and forced 30 turnovers in a 59-56 victory over Santa Clara on Thursday night in Los Angeles. The Lions (14-6, 4-2 WCC) improve to 9-1 at home while keeping the Broncos (2-19, 0-6 WCC) winless in West Coast Conference play.

Freshman Alex Cowling led three Lions in double figures with 14 points and seven rebounds. Senior Cassady Moore added 13 points and three steals and junior Lisa Helmers chipped in 10 points. Sophomore Renahy Young was limited to nine points but continued her quest for the LMU single-season free throws made record, knocking down five to jump three places to fourth with 109.

LMU shot 34.6% (18-for-52) overall and 20% (3-for-15) from three-point range but stood strong at the free throw line, where it went 20-for-24 (83.3%) and outscored the Broncos 20-3. That made up for the Lions' lowest rebounding outing of the season as SCU held a 42-26 edge on the glass.

Lena Gipson had a double-double with game-highs of 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Broncos. Elizabeth Doran scored 11 of her 14 points in the first half and Maggie Goldenberger contributed 12 points. After shooting 55% in the first half, the Broncos connected on 33% in the second to finish at 42.9% (24-for-56) and 25% (5-for-20) from beyond the arc. Ultimately, the Broncos were done in by their 30 turnovers, which led to 24 LMU points.

After closing the first half on a 10-0 run, LMU started the second half by picking up the defensive intensity even more, creating three turnovers in the first minute. This time, however, the Lions converted offensively, going on an 18-0 run to claim its first lead of the contest. Helmers opened the half with a three-point play and, following a Moore layup and three steals, put LMU ahead 32-31 with a long three-pointer.

LMU's trapping press continued to provided Santa Clara fits. The Santa Clara turnovers kept coming and the LMU run kept growing as LMU hit nine of its first 12 shots. Back-to-back layups by sophomore Melanie Ysaguirre made it 42-31 until Gipson's layup at 13:45 snapped Santa Clara's drought. To that point, the Broncos had gone 12:56 - the final 6:39 of the first half and the first 6:17 of the second - without a point.

Santa Clara refused to go away. Trailing 50-39, Doran knocked down a three and Gipson had an offensive rebound-putback to cut the Lion lead to six and the Broncos hit the offensive boards and clamped down on defense. LMU went over eight minutes without a basket as Santa Clara whittled the lead down to three, 54-51, with 1:32 remaining on a baseline jumper by Goldenberger.

The Lions went back to Young, who got herself to the line but made only one. At the other end, Gipson hit a jumper in the lane and was fouled, making the free throw for a 55-54 game with a minute left. LMU ran the clock down for Moore, who drove baseline and banked it in with 32 seconds on the clock. Santa Clara proceeded to call timeout to set up its final possession. Instead of going for the game-tying three, the Broncos fed Gipson inside and her layup was good with three ticks on the clock. The Lions inbounded to Helmers, who was fouled and connected on both of her foul shots with 0.3 left to seal the win.

Starting a three-game home stand, LMU dug itself into an early hole as Santa Clara opened the game by making its first five shots, including two threes from Doran, to take a 13-0 lead. The introduction of Cowling seemed to get the Lions going as the freshman went on a personal 6-0 run after entering the game. Still, Doran had the hot hand, knocking down her third triple of the opening six minutes to start an 11-2 run that put the Broncos ahead 25-8 with 9:31 left.

The Lions were pushing the tempo and succeeding in creating turnovers, forcing 16 in the first half but when they were not getting steals, the Broncos were converting. Santa Clara made 13 of its first 17 shots and shot 56% in the period to take a 31-24 halftime lead. The Broncos' hot shooting helped limit LMU, the leading rebounding team in the conference with 44 per game, to just eight first half boards.

LMU closes out the first half of conference play by hosting San Francisco at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

- GO LIONS -