Feb. 11, 2010

Box Score

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

LOS ANGELES - Sophomore Alex Cowling went over 20 points for the sixth time in her last eight games and LMU snapped a five-game losing streak with a 73-61 victory over Santa Clara in a West Coast Conference game Thursday night at Gersten Pavilion. On a night in which the Lions (10-13, 3-6 WCC) debuted pink uniforms as part of the WBCA PinkZone initiative, they win their fifth straight over the Broncos (3-22, 1-9 WCC), who have now lost five in a row overall.

Cowling, who leads the WCC in scoring during conference play, connected on 8-of-11 from the floor to top her previous season high of 24 points, set at San Diego on January 30. Cowling finished with 25 points and nine rebounds, falling one point shy of her career-best. She was joined in double figures by junior Renahy Young, who had 15 points to go over 1,100 for her career. Young also grabbed six rebounds and had six of LMU's 16 steals. Seniors Lisa Helmers and Kavita Goss added 10 points each and sophomore Candice Nichols came off the bench for nine.

LMU overcame a poor start to the second half to shoot 39.6% (21-for-53) overall and 41.2% (7-for-17) from three-point range. The Lions held a huge margin at the free throw line, where they went 24-for-28 (85.7%) to 13-for-14 (92.9%) for the Broncos.

Lena Gipson had a double-double of 19 points and 12 boards to lead SCU, who also got 16 points from Alyssa Shoji and seven points and eight assists from Maggie Goldenberger. The Broncos shot 35.7% (20-for-56) from the floor and 47.1% (8-for-17) from distance but were undone by 23 turnovers that led to 22 LMU points.

The Lions came out of the gates by employing a full-court press and it paid off as they forced 11 Bronco turnovers in the first 20 minutes, leading to a 13-0 scoring advantage in points off turnovers. With the Lions leading 14-13 with 9:48 left, Cowling and Young combined for 10 points during a 14-3 run over the next 4:46. Cowling was being particularly aggressive, scoring 12 of LMU's first 28 points in helping the hosts extend their advantage to 28-16.

When it wasn't creating turnovers, the Lions' active defense was just as effective at holding down Santa Clara's shooting percentage. The Broncos were helped that four of their six first half field goals were from three-point range but they still shot just 22% (6-for-28) in the opening 20 minutes while the Lions connected on 44.4% (12-for-27) for a 32-19 lead.

Whatever adjustments Santa Clara made at the half worked as Meagan Fulps knocked down two quick shots to spur a 7-0 run to almost immediately cut the lead to 32-26. Meanwhile, the Lions were struggling from the floor, misfiring on their first 10 attempts of the half while the Broncos sank five of their first six to pull within two, 35-33, on a Gipson jumper in the lane.

Cowling took it upon herself to get the Lions going and did so, reaching 20 points for the sixth time in WCC play by the 12:31 mark of the second half. First she kissed a turnaround off the glass to break LMU's drought and followed with a 12-footer to off-set a Fulps three that had cut the deficit to one, 37-36.

Still, the Broncos kept coming, with Shoji scoring eight points over the next four minutes to keep the visitors within four, 54-50. Cowling's play was lifting that of her teammates and after she knocked down a three and spun in the lane for a layup, Young and Helmers both hit triples to push the LMU lead back into double figures, 60-50, with 5:14 left. Santa Clara would make one last push, getting back within seven, but LMU went on a 9-0 run from the foul line to ice the contest. Young had two of the foul shots, putting her past Bryn Britton (1998-2002) for second on LMU's career list and also into the school's single-season top-10.

LMU closes out its three-game homestand on Saturday with a visit from San Francisco at 2 p.m.