Nov. 29, 2014 Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
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LOS ANGELES - Tournament MVP Leslie Lopez-Wood led the Lion charge late in the second half and Deanna Johnson sank three free throws in the final minute to lead the LMU women's basketball team to a 51-48 victory in the championship game of the 2014 DoubleTree Los Angeles Westside Thanksgiving Classic Saturday in Gersten Pavilion.
The win was the second straight for LMU (2-3) and the first Thanksgiving Classic title since 2008. The Lions also won their own Classic in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2008.
Trailing 25-23 at the break, Sophie Taylor opened the second half with a jumper for the game's fourth tie. Following an Erica Donovan bucket, the Lions would take their first lead of the night when Emily Ben-Jumbo converted a layup and Taylor knocked down a pair of free throws.
But it was short lived as Bowling Green responded with a 15-2 run, opening up a 42-31 advantage with 9:58 remaining. Not to be outdone, Lopez-Wood answered with a personal 6-0 run over the next five minutes, bringing the Lions to within five, 42-37, with 5:50 to go.
With just over three minutes to play, Lopez-Wood drained her second three of the night, bringing the Lions to within two, 46-44. Miriam Justinger answered with a jumper on the ensuing possession, but back-to-back buckets by Taylor Anderson would knot the score at 48-48 with 1:44 remaining.
Donovan would miss a three-point attempt and, with 51 seconds remaining, Johnson drew a foul in the lane. The junior guard sank both free throws to put LMU on top, 50-48. Another Bowling Green three point attempt on the ensuing possession went long and Johnson ended up back on the charity stripe for a final time. She hit one of two chances and a last ditch shot by BGSU would not fall.
Lopez-Wood finished the night with a game-high 16 points, 11 in the second half. Taylor and Anderson chipped in 10 apiece while Johnson added 7.
Bowling Green was paced by Donovan's 14 points and nine boards. Donovan and Rachel Myers, who added eight points, were both named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Falcons jumped out to a 9-2 lead early in the game before the Lions would pull even, 12-12, on a Lopez-Wood jumper with 12:08 to play in the first half. LMU tie the score once more, but never lead in the opening frame as an Anderson lay-up sent the Lions into the break trailing by two.
The Lions hit the road for their next two games, beginning Wednesday, Dec. 3 at Northern Arizona. Tip off in Flagstaff is set for 4 p.m. (PT).
2014 DoubleTree Los Angeles Westside Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team
Methlyn Onogomuho, UC Irvine
Janae Smith, UAB
Rachel Myers, Bowling Green
Erica Donovan, Bowling Green
Deanna Johnson, LMU
Leslie Lopez-Wood, LMU (MVP)
