Dec. 12, 2015 Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - The LMU women's basketball team suffered a 70-58 setback at Cal Poly in their final road non-conference contest of the year, Saturday afternoon at Mott Athletic Center in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
The Lions (4-7) used a 16-6 run to open the third quarter, turning a three-point deficit into a seven-point lead, 48-41 with 5:35 remaining in the period. But the Lions went cold the remainder of the game, scoring just 10 points over the final 14:25 as the Mustangs pulled away for their sixth win of the season.
Sophie Taylor led LMU for the third straight game, finishing with 15 points to go along with nine rebounds. Leslie Lopez-Wood added 12 points, including two three pointers, which brings her career total to 166, four shy of the LMU career record.
Bree Alford hauled in 11 boards, including seven on the offensive end and Andee Velasco dished six assists with just two turnovers.
The first half featured seven tie scores and eight lead changes as the two sides battled back and forth. Neither team would lead by more than three in the opening quarter as both hit 7-for-17 from the field, including four threes apiece. The Lions carried a 20-19 lead into the break thanks to one extra free-throw make.
The teams continued to battle closely through the second period as the Mustangs pulled ahead with a slight edge, 35-32, at the break.
Out of the locker room it was Taylor and Bianca Velasco who got things going, hitting back-to-back threes for LMU to reclaim the lead, 38-35, 1:23 into the third quarter. Lopez-Wood would score five points and Taylor added a layup and a free-throw to give the Lions their largest lead of the game, 48-41, with 5:35 to go.
But then the Mustangs got hot and the Lions got cold. Cal Poly's Beth Balbierz hit three threes as part of a 15-2 run to close out the period, putting the home team in the driver's seat.
The run continued into the final period as the Lions went on a 5:!5 scoring drought until a free throw by Andee Velasco broke the ice at the 4:52 mark.
Balbierz and Hannah Gilbert finished with 19 points apiece for the Mustangs.
The Lions head back to LA this week for finals week, then wrap up non-conference play on Saturday, Dec. 19, hosting Bristol University at 2 p.m. West Coast Conference play begins Monday, Dec. 21 as the Lions welcome Portland to Gersten Pavilion.
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