Feb. 20, 2010

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

Box Score

Portland, Ore. - Sophomore Alex Cowling recorded her fourth double-double of the season, scoring 20 of her game-high 25 points in the second half as LMU defeated Portland 71-58 in the final road contest of West Coast Conference play Saturday afternoon at Chiles Center in Portland, Ore. The Lions (12-14, 5-7 WCC) overcame a six-point halftime deficit with 44 points in the second half to earn a season split and pull even with the Pilots (16-11, 5-7 WCC) in the WCC standings.

The contest was a far cry from Portland's 94-91 victory in Los Angeles on January 21, when the Pilots shot 61% for the game. LMU made the necessary defensive adjustments, holding the Pilots to 37% while shooting 57% themselves in the second half, spurred in part by Cowling.

Cowling recovered from an 0-for-6 start and a first half that saw her shoot 2-for-9 by hitting eight of her 11 shots in the second half. She finished with 25 points on 10-for-20 shooting and 10 rebounds to top 20 points for the eighth time in WCC play. In doing so, she moved into fifth position on the LMU single-season record list with 449 points this season, breaking teammate Renahy Young's record for points by a sophomore in the process.

Young had a fine outing herself, tying a career-high with five three-pointers en route to 17 points as she passed Kristen Bruich (1988-91) for sixth place on the LMU career scoring list. Young also tied a career-high with six rebounds while adding five assists and four steals. Senior Lisa Helmers chipped in 13 points, including three three-pointers, to pull within five triples of Amanda Patton's career record.

Coming off their lowest scoring output (40 points) since December 5, 1996, the Lions topped that in the second half alone, outscoring Portland 44-25 in the second half and shooting 55.6% (15-for-27) after the break. LMU shot 45.5% (25-for-55) overall and was aided by going 11-for-23 (47.8%) from long-range and 71.4% (10-for-14) at the line.

The Lion defense did well to adjust to the Pilots the second time around. Portland, who shot 61% in its win at LMU on January 21, connected on just 37.1% (23-for-62) this time out and 24.1% (7-for-29) from beyond the arc. UP was 5-of-6 (83.3%) at the line and held a 39-33 rebounding edge.

ReZina TecleMariam led the Pilots with 18 points, adding six assists and five rebounds, but committed eight of the team's 18 turnovers. Natalie Day and Jessica Clemens each had 10 points off the bench and the Lions held Portland's leading scorer, Laiken Dollente, to eight points, half her season average, on her Senior Day.

The same turnover woes that hurt LMU Thursday at Gonzaga returned in the early going Saturday as LMU committed six turnovers in the first seven minutes that Portland converted into 10 points and a 13-6 lead. The Lions were doing what they could from beyond the arc to stay close, as their first baskets all came from three-point land. It wasn't until Cowling's layup with 7:24 left that LMU got anything going inside, with her basket snapping a personal 0-for-6 start.

Portland led 23-12 on a layup by Clemens with 7:08 remaining but LMU continued to work the three-ball to mount an 11-3 run. Helmers' second three of the game got things going and Young dialed long distance on consecutive possessions to cap the run and bring LMU back within three, 26-23, with 2:23 left in the first. But Portland ended the half on a 7-4 spurt through four points from Clemens to carry a 33-27 advantage into the break. Six of LMU's 10 field goals in the opening stanza were from three-point range and Young led all scorers at the break with 11 points.

LMU came out of the break with more intensity, with sophomore Candice Nichols scoring LMU's first five points to immediately bring the Lions back to 33-29. The Pilots responded through TecleMariam to expand the lead to 41-34 but that's when Cowling began to take over, scoring eight of LMU's next 11 points to get the Lions back within three.

Cowling's play lifted her teammates, who picked up their efforts with a 12-2 run over the next 2:38. Helmers started things by curling off a screen for a long two and then hitting her third three of the game to tie it before Cowling beat everyone down the floor for a layup and a 50-48 Lion advantage with 10:25 to go. Senior Kavita Goss got into the act with a step-back three and Nichols capped the spurt with a layup for a 55-50 lead.

With the lead secured, Cowling went back to work, pounding the ball inside to score the next eight points as LMU pushed its lead into double-digits, 63-52. Young then connected on her fifth three-pointer of the game for a 14-point LMU lead that capped a 39-19 LMU run to start the second half. Any hopes for a Portland comeback were squashed as Nichols intercepted a pass and junior Melanie Ysaguirre drew a charge to seal LMU's seventh straight victory in Portland.

LMU closes out the regular season next week with its final two home contests. On Thursday, the Lions host San Diego at 7 p.m. On Saturday, they host Saint Mary's at 2 p.m. on Senior Day. LMU's graduating seniors, Maggie Burkett, Aleyse Evans, Kavita Goss, Lisa Helmers, and Jenna Sybesma will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.