Dec. 23, 2015 Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
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LOS ANGELES - Doing battle against one of the perennial powers of the West Coast Conference, the LMU women's basketball team turned in a solid performance in their final game prior to the Christmas break, but would ultimately fall, 66-59 to visiting Gonzaga Wednesday afternoon in Gersten Pavilion.
The Lions (5-8, 1-1 WCC) came to play following a 62-52 win over Portland to open WCC play on Monday. The game featured five lead chances and four tie scores while LMU never trailed by more than 10. The seven-point final spread marked the closest the Lions have played the Zags since forcing overtime in 2014 and since earning their last win in the series in 2008.
Leslie Lopez-Wood led all scorers with 16 points. Cheyanne Wallace came off the bench to add 12 points while Sophie Taylor had 11 and Deanna Johnson chipped in 10. Wallace also added four blocks and Andee Velasco dished four assists.
Both sides started hot as Gonzaga went 9-for-18 from the field in the first quarter and the Lions hit 4-of-6 from deep. The back-and-forth battle continued in the second period and a three by Lopez-Wood put the Lions on top 27-26 with 7:09 to play.
The Zags would respond with an Emma Stach layup and Shaniqua Nilles three, but LMU kept it close and trailed just 39-35 into the break.
Gonzaga opened the third quarter on a 13-3 run to open up a 52-42 advantage midway through. But the Lions answered with a run of their own, including seven points from Lopez-Wood, to inch within three, 54-51, at the period's end.
Back-to-back layups by Johnson and Wallace inside five minutes to play in the game had LMU within one point, 58-57. Following a Zhane Templeton three with just under four to play, Lopez-Wood nailed a 15-foot jumper, trimming the spread back to two with 2:31 remaining. But the Lions went 0-for-4 the rest of the way and the Zags would hold on by hitting three free-throws in the final 30 seconds.
Georgia Stirton led Gonzaga with 14 points while Kiara Kudron and Shelby Cheslek each added 10 points. The duo also pulled down 13 and 12 rebounds, respectively, as the Zags earned a 56-34 edge on the boards.
The Lions return to action in the New Year, concluding a three-game WCC stretch at home against Wells Fargo PCH Cup rival Pepperdine. Tip off in Gersten Pavilion is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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