Nov. 27, 2009

Box Score

Angie Kiel's postgame interview with Head Coach Julie Wilhoit from Podcast Center.
Audio highlights from Podcast Center.

LOS ANGELES - There was certainly no tryptophan-induced hangover for LMU as the Lions shot a blistering 58.8% from the floor to record an 87-61 victory over Saint Louis in the semifinal of the 13th Annual Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles Westside Thanksgiving Classic on Friday afternoon at Gersten Pavilion. The Lions (3-2) had four players score in double figures and set team tournament records for most points scored and highest shooting percentage. LMU will go for its third consecutive Thanksgiving title on Saturday at 3 p.m. against South Florida.

Sophomore Alex Cowling continued her stellar play with her second double-double of the season, registering game-highs of 23 points and 11 rebounds. Coming off of 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting on Sunday at UC Santa Barbara, Cowling finished 8-for-12 from the floor, 3-for-4 from three-point range, and 4-for-5 from the line to set the tone for the Lions. LMU made 30 of its 51 shots, with the 58.8% marking the fifth-highest single-game shooting performance in school history and the most since the Lions connected on 61% on February 3, 1995 against Gonzaga. LMU also shot 38.5% (5-for-13) from downtown and 78.6% (22-for-28) at the line while holding a 39-28 rebounding advantage.

Cowling was joined in double figures by senior Jenna Sybesma, who went 5-for-6 from both the floor and the line to total 15 points. Senior Kavita Goss added a season-high 12 points and junior Renahy Young also had 12 to mark her seven straight game in double figures, dating back to last season. Eleven of the 12 players who saw the court made it on the scoresheet for the Lions, whose bench outscored that of the Billikens 43-18. Even more telling was that 10 different Lions had at least one assist as the team registered more assists (16) than turnovers (15) for the second straight game.

Katie Paganelli led SLU (1-3) with a career-high 19 points, including four three-pointers. Lauren Woods added 10 points and five rebounds. The Billikens shot 35.5% (22-for-62) overall, 43.8% (7-for-16) from three-point range, and 66.7% (10-for-15) at the line.

It was actually a close contest for the opening 14 minutes, with the Billikens leading 13-10 at the 13:43 mark of the first half and it being a four-point game, 25-21 LMU, with 6:29 in the first. That all changed when Cowling and Goss got hot, combining for LMU's next 12 points as part of a 14-6 run to send the Lions into the locker room with a 39-27 advantage. Both Goss and Cowling were 4-for-7 in the first half for 12 points, with Sybesma chipping in ten for good measure as the trio combined for 34 of the team's 39 points.

Saint Louis immediately cut the LMU lead down to ten to start the second half, with Amanda Kemezys making it 39-29 on the first possession. With 14:49 left, Lauren Woods knocked down a three to make it 51-40 and give the Billikens life but LMU responded with a 13-3 run to open up a 21-point LMU advantage, 64-43 with 10:45 left. Seven different players scored during the run. The spurt would continue over the next six minutes as the Lions scored on eight of the next 10 possessions, putting together a 16-4 run to take their largest lead of the game, 80-50. Sybesma's step-back jumper with 4:54 to play put LMU at the 80-point mark for the first time this season and broke the team's previous Thanksgiving tournament record for points, 78, set against Austin Peay on November 28, 1998.

The Lions will now face defending WNIT champions South Florida in the championship game on Saturday at 3 p.m. USF got 21 points from KeNeisha Saunders and 15 points and 15 rebounds from Jessica Lawson to defeat Montana 63-53. Saint Louis and Montana will play for the consolation title at 1 p.m.

Montana-South Florida Box Score.