Jan. 17, 2015 Final Stats
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SPOKANE, Wash. - Despite holding Gonzaga to a season low 2-for-22 (9 percent) from three, the LMU women's basketball team fell 76-62 to the Zags Saturday afternoon in West Coast Conference action at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
In perhaps the most difficult arena to play in on the road in the WCC, the Lions' 14-point setback was the closest they have played the Zags (14-4, 7-0 WCC) to since falling 66-56 during the 2006-07 season.
Sophie Taylor led the Lions (2-16, 0-7 WCC) with perhaps her best outing of the year, finishing with a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double. Emily Ben-Jumbo went 8-for-17 for 17 points and Taylor Anderson chipped in 10.
Gonzaga's Sunny Greinacher led all scorers with 25 points to go along with 10 boards. Shelby Cheslek was the only other Zag in double figures, finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Elle Tinkle added 10 rebounds as the Zags earned a 54-40 advantage on the boards, including 24 offensive rebounds that they turned into 27 points.
The Lions took a quick 5-2 lead on a Taylor jumper and Makenzie Cast three, but Gonzaga responded with an 8-0 run to snatch a 10-5 advantage. Back-to-back Ben-Jumbo layups and a Leslie Lopez-Wood three led LMU to a 12-12 tie. The first half would feature two more ties before Gonzaga would close out the final eight minutes on a 15-2 run to open up a 37-24 lead at the break.
Gonzaga used a 10-0 run to open up a 21-point lead, 57-36, at the 12-minute mark of the second half. An 8-0 LMU run, including six points from Taylor, brought the Lions back within 13, 57-44, with eight minutes to play. LMU would pull within 13 twice more in the half, but the Zags would hold on down the stretch.
After hitting just 11-of-27 (30 percent) from the field in the first half, LMU went 12-for-30 (40 percent) in the second frame. They also did not attempt a free throw in the first period, but hit 14-of-17 (82 percent) in the second.
LMU returns to Gersten Pavilion for four straight WCC games, beginning Thursday, Jan. 17 against Santa Clara. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. The game will be "Vegas Night" themed as LMU students who attend the game will have an opportunity to enter to win a free trip to the 2015 West Coast Conference Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas.
