March 10, 2012

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LOS ANGELES -- After a tight first frame, it was all LMU down the stretch as the Lions earn a 15-7 victory over No. 20 UC San Diego in Western Water Polo Association action on Saturday afternoon at the Burns Aquatics Center.

Senior Kimberly Benedetti led the seventh-ranked Lions with six goals, a fitting accomplishment on the Lions Centennial Game. It was the first six-goal game since Nicole Hughes had eight on April 4, 2009. Hughes went on to become the Lions' all-time leading scorer with 320.

Jessica Morelos, Alexandra Honny, and Erin Manke added two goals each, while goalie Elise Ponce anchored another solid defensive effort with 15 saves to help the Lions to a 7-7 record overall and 3-0 in WWPA play.

UC San Diego falls to 9-9 overall, 3-2 in the WWPA as Allison Delgado and Sarah Lizotte had two goals each.

The Lions held a one-goal lead, 4-3, after the first period and then would start to pull away with solid defense and opportune 6-on-5 play.

Ponce and the Lions defense allowed just one goal in the second and third quarters while scoring seven goals combined to take an 11-5 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Six of the Lions seven goals in that stretch were on the 6-on-5 as they would finish 7-for-13 for the game.