Box Score

LOS ANGELES â€" The Loyola Marymount women's basketball team (11-6, 3-3 WCC) returned to the Pavilion today as they took on the USD Toreros (10-7, 3-3 WCC) in a 2 p.m. matinee. San Diego defeated LMU 60-54 after a close battle throughout.

Led by balanced scoring, LMU took a 15-11 edge after one, as six Lions worked their way into the scoring column in the frame. LMU also forced seven USD turnovers in the first 10 minutes of play.

The Toreros held the Lions to just nine points in the second quarter as they scored 16 themselves to take a 27-24 halftime lead. Aubrey Ward-El of USD led all scorers in the first half with nine points while Myah Pace pulled down eight boards through the first two quarters. Gabby Green led the Lions in the half with eight points and four steals.

LMU outscored USD 19-15 in the third quarter to take over the lead, 43-42, heading into the fourth. Senior Makenzie Cast netted two triples in the frame to help the Lions surge past the Toreros.

The two teams traded leads for a majority of the fourth quarter and the game was tied 52-52 at the 2:26 mark after Raychel Stanley put in a layup while drawing the foul and then draining the free throw to tie it up. But then Madison Pollock put USD back on top as she scored on the other end. The Toreros held on to their lead throughout the remainder of the contest.

Green finished with a team-high 10 points, a game-high six steals, four assists and two blocks. Andee Velasco nearly tallied a double-double with eight points and a game-eight assists and two blocks. Makenzie Cast added nine points while Bree Alford chipped in eight points and six rebounds. Stanley finished with six points and six boards for the Lions.

Ward-El tallied a game-high 21 points while Pace racked up nine points and 11 rebounds for USD.

LMU hosts the BYU Cougars for another home contest on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 12 p.m. which will serve as Education Day on the Loyola Marymount campus. Several local elementary schools will be in attendance for the WCC matchup.