Nov. 19, 2010

Box Score

Highlights and postgame interviews.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Junior Alex Cowling posted her first double-double of the season, pouring in 31 points and 11 rebounds to pace LMU to a 77-58 victory over Cal Poly in a non-conference matchup Friday evening at Mott Gymnasium in San Luis Obispo, Calif. The Lions (2-1) get their second straight win of the young season while winning their sixth in a row over the Mustangs (2-1).

Cowling scored 22 of her season-high 31 in the second half as LMU shot 61% after the break to turn a tight game into a comfortable victory. She finished the contest shooting 11-of-16 from the floor and 8-of-8 from the foul line for her second career 30-point outing and 11th career double-double. By tying her career-high for points, she leaves herself five points shy of becoming the 12th member of LMU's 1,000-point club.

Cowling was joined in double figures by freshman Hazel Ramirez, who put up 15 points for the second straight game. Junior Candice Nichols added 11 pints, six rebounds, and four assists as the Lions improved to 36-6 against teams from the Big West Conference since 2000.

LMU exploded for 47 second-half points and finished the contest shooting 48.2% (27-for-36) from the floor, 40.0% (6-for-15) from three-point range, and 77.3% (17-for-22) from the line. The Lions continued to take care of the ball, committing just 11 turnovers while forcing 18. The rebound count was even at 37-all.

Ashlee Burns led Cal Poly with 14 points while Jonae Ervin and Rachel Clancy had 10 apiece. The Mustangs shot 36.2% (21-for-58) overall, 31.6% (6-for-19) from distance, and 76.9% (10-for-13) from the line.

The Lions started out hot, racing to an early 7-2 lead, but Cal Poly used three straight threes, two by Clancy, to storm back on an 11-1 run and take a 13-7 advantage. The lead would extend to eight, 21-13, before LMU started pounding the ball inside. A jumper by Cowling and four straight free throws from redshirt freshman Camille Buckley tied the game up at 25.

LMU's defense took over down the stretch in the opening half. The Lions forced 12 first-half turnovers and Cowling knocked down another jumper, which was followed by a long three by redshirt sophomore Monica DeAngelis as the shot clock expired, to give LMU a 30-27 lead at the break. Cowling had nine of her points in the first half on 4-of-5 shooting.

Ramirez came out of the half with an immediate three-pointer and then the Lions turned to the hot hand of Cowling. Three straight jumpers from the junior gave LMU a 39-32 advantage

Again the Mustangs came back and a deep three from Burns tied things up at 41 with 14 minutes left. A three-pointer from Burns gave Cal Poly a 47-46 lead with 11: 34 left but Nichols answered with a triple of her own and LMU never again trailed. Nichols' three kicked off a 17-6 run over the next five minutes, with Cowling scoring 12 of the points during the spurt.

It was not all Cowling for the Lions, though. Ramirez drove in for a layup and Nichols stole it and went the distance to help the visitors open a 14-point lead, 69-55, with 3:08 to play and the Lion defense held the Mustangs to just 31% shooting after the half for the win.

The Lions close out their brief two-game road trip on Monday night at Sacramento State.