SANTA CLARA, Calif.,-- The Loyola Marymount women's basketball team won its third consecutive game on Thursday night  after beating Santa Clara (10-12, 3-8) on the road 69-60. 
 
"I am really proud, it is always hard to win on the road," said head coach Charity Elliott. "Santa Clara came out gritty and tough, as they always do, and I thought we did a good job of just continuing to battle and stay the course. We had twelve turnovers in the first half and only two in the second half. Making some minor adjustments and playing a little tougher in the second half was a big part of our success."
 
LMU (14-10, 7-5) opened the game up with a basket from Bree Alford, the Broncos responded and tied things up. The Lions didn't let the tie last long, as they quickly took the lead and held on to it for the rest of the quarter. 
 
Chelsey Gipson was 100 percent from the field first quarter, tallying seven of LMU's 19 points.
 
Up 19-13 to start the second quarter, the Broncos gained some momentum and tied things up. They then took a 25-19 lead, their biggest lead of the game. 
 
After a 12-point run by the Broncos, the momentum switched when Alford made a basket,  followed by a basket from Jasmine Jones, who was then fouled. Jones went 2-2 at the free-throw line to tie things up, 25-25. 
 
The Lions took the lead back, and ended the second quarter with a half-court shot from Andee Velasco at the buzzer, giving the Lions a 37-32 lead to close the half.
 
The Broncos came into the third quarter and tied things back up three times, but could never take a lead. LMU ended the third quarter up 57-51 on Santa Clara.
 
Gipson opened up the fourth quarter with a three-point basket giving the Lions a nine-point lead, their largest lead of the game. The Broncos battled, but were never able to get within less than four points of the Lions. 
 
"I thought we had a lot of people who did a lot of different things. Jasmine and Chelsey certainly with scoring, Bree, with nine points and eight rebounds, Josie gave us some big minutes. I thought Bianca had a tremendous defensive play at a critical time and Andee with the leadership," said Elliott.
 
Gipson led the team in points with 25, she also had seven assists, while Jones had 15 points and seven rebounds. Alford led the team in rebounds with eight. 
 
The Lions were 51 percent from the field and 47 percent from the three-point line, compared to the Broncos' 41 and 25 percent. 
 
"Everybody did their part and stepped up when they were called. That is what we have to do on the road, you have to keep fighting, play tougher and play smarter."
 
 
LMU continues its road trip and will be back on the court on Saturday to take on USF (6-16, 2-9) in San Francisco.