Box Score LOS ANGELES, Calif., -- The Loyola Marymount women's basketball team (18-3, 10-8) cruised past the University of San Francisco in its first game at the West Coast Conference Championships, beating the Dons 66-45, advancing to the quarter-finals to take on Saint Mary's.
"I am just really proud of our team, I thought we came out with a lot of focus, intensity and energy, all of the things you have to have to be successful," said head coach
Charity Elliott. "Basketball is a game of runs, there are going to be a some runs, they're going to punch and we have to punch back, I thought we did a nice job of being steady and delivering a couple of punch backs."
Jasmine Jones put the first point of the game on the board after she was fouled and went to the line.
Bree Alford then went to the line and made both of her shots to give the Lions a 3-0 lead.
USF responded with a three-pointer to tie things up, but Alford answered with a three to take the lead back. The teams tied four times in the first quarter, but the Dons were never able to take a lead.
Cierra Belvin closed out the first quarter with a three-pointer to give the Lions a 19-16 lead to head into the second.
Alford opened up the second quarter with a layup. The Lions maintained a lead all quarter and never let the Dons come within three points.
Andee Velasco made a three-point shot at the buzzer to close out the half, giving the Lions a 34-25 lead.
Gabby Green opened up the second half with a basket, giving the Lions their first double-digit lead of the game. LMU lost its double-digit lead for most of the third, as the Dons made it a three-point game early in the quarter.
With just seconds left in the third, Green made a three-pointer at the buzzer, the second of the game. For the second time in the third quarter, Green gave the Lions a double-digit lead, closing out the third up 47-36.
The Lions went on an 11-1 run to open up the fourth quarter, advancing the lead to 20 points. With under a minute left, LMU took the biggest lead of the game of 21 points, finishing with a 66-45 win.
Jones picked up a double-double in the fourth quarter, as she had 15 points and 14 rebounds, leading the team in both categories. Alford put up 13 points and seven rebounds, while Belvin had 12 points, nine of which were from behind the arch. Green led the team in assists with six, while tallying up 11 points.
The Lions shot 48 percent from the field and 40 percent from behind the arch, compared to the Dons' 38 and 20 percent. LMU had 39 total rebounds and 12 steals and one block, while the Dons had 22, 10 and zero, respectively.
With Friday's win, the Lions advance to the quarterfinals against the fourth seeded Saint Mary's. With the Gaels receiving the first and second round bye, this will be their first match-up in the tournament.
The Gaels are 19-10 on the season and 12-6 in conference play, with one of their losses being against the Lions, as the teams split this season. LMU lost 86-62 against the Gaels on the road, but won their second game 69-56 at home.
The semifinals will start on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Orleans arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The winner of tomorrow's match-up will advance to the semifinals and play No. 1 Gonzaga on Monday.
