The Lions were unable to keep up with South Dakota in their second match of the Puerto Rico Classic. While LMU kept it close in the first half, the Coyotes, with only one loss on the season, took the game with a score of 67-40. 

Jasmine Jones put up LMU's first 5 points of the ball game, and led the half with 5 points and 3 rebounds. Both teams struggled to hit the mark in the first and the quarter ended with a low score of 14-11, South Dakota in the lead.

A 7-0 run from the Lions began the second quarter. 5 of those 7 came from Gabby Green, to put LMU in the lead. A great defensive effort by LMU kept the Coyotes to only 4 points up to the media time out. However, South Dakota was able to regain the lead with a 7-0 run of their own late in the second. A three pointer by Cierra Belvin ended the quarter, bringing the halftime score to 27-23, with the Coyotes leading by just 4.

LMU and South Dakota went back and fourth throughout most of the third quarter, but South Dakota was able to bring their lead to 14, ending the quarter 46-32.   

The Coyotes continued to pull away in the fourth, extending their lead to as high as 28. The final score was 67-40, bringing LMU's record to 7-4.  

LMU was unable to hit the mark today, with a scoring percentage of just 29.4%. As with Indiana, the Lions also struggled with turnovers and fouls that benched key players. A strong offensive performance from South Dakota's Ciara Duffy, who put up 24 points, also proved to be a challenge for the Lions defense. 

LMU's top scorers were Green and Jones, who put up 9 each. Green also led the team in rebounds with 6, Jones with 5. A good performance came from redshirt senior Josie Buckingham, who put up six points and 2 rebounds in 13 minutes of play.     

The Lions will look to bounce back tomorrow in their final matchup of the Puerto Rico Classic. They will face Grambling State at 10:30 p.m., then head home to begin conference play.