LOS ANGELES – Khari Clark led the Loyola Marymount University women's basketball team to a Pacific Coast Highway Cup victory on Saturday afternoon in Gersten Pavilion, as the team beat the Pepperdine Waves 53-50 behind Clark's double-double. 
 
The Lions earned the rivalry victory wearing black jerseys, which they unveiled in Saturday's game to stand against social and racial injustices. 
 

"This is WCC play," said head coach Charity Elliott. "Every night is a battle. It was not pretty tonight, but we kept battling and getting stops when we needed them."

 
The Lions were off to a slow start to open up the first quarter, as the Waves outscored LMU 21-13. LMU responded in the second quarter, as the team went on a 12-0 run. An outstanding Lion defense shutout the Waves for the last eight minutes of play in the second quarter. The Lions closed out the half down 27-25. 
 
The Lions continued their momentum in the third, quickly tying the game up at 27-27. LMU outscored the Waves in the third quarter, 11-10 to close out the third down 37-36. 
 
The first basket in the fourth quarter gave the Lions their first lead of the game, LMU continued to extend the lead.  The teams were able to tie things up three times, but Pepperdine could not keep up with the Lions, as LMU closed out the game with a 53-50 victory. 
 
Khari Clark put on a phenomenal performance for the Lions, earning her first career double-double. The sophomore led the team in points with 16 and also set several season highs, including rebounds with 11, and blocks with four.
 
Natalia Klimek also scored in double-digits with 13 points. Ariel Johnson was a leading rebounder, totaling eight. Meghan Mandel led in blocks with Clark with four. Johnson and Klimek both led in assists, with three a piece. 
 

"Natalia was huge in the first half," said Elliott. "Khari carried us inside and Nicole had a really solid game tonight. Little by little, we are getting better"

 
The Lions out-shot the Waves from the field and from behind the arch, with 36 percent and 23 percent, respectively, compared to Pepperdine's 28 and 22 percent. LMU shot 53 percent at the line, had 42 total rebounds and 26 points off of the bench. 
 
The Lions had 10 blocks and 13 assists, while the Waves had just two and six. Both teams had six steals each. 
 
Up next: The Lions will be back on the road next week and will be heading north to play Pacific on Thursday and Saint Mary's on Saturday.