LOS ANGELES –  The Loyola Marymount University women's basketball team put up a strong showing against Saint Mary's College Saturday afternoon, but a fourth quarter run gave the Gaels the win, 69-65 in Moraga, Calif. 
 
"We had some really bright spots tonight but unfortunately too many lapses where we just let Saint Mary's do whatever they wanted," said head coach Charity Elliott. "Kudos to Saint Mary's.  We have to be ready to play for 40 minutes, and when we do that, I think we can be really special. Our chemistry is definitely growing, but we took a couple of steps backwards today.  Now it's just time to get back to work."
 
The Lions outscored the Gaels 17-15 in the first quarter, which included eight points from just Ariel Johnson. LMU continued their momentum to open up the second quarter, but the Gaels outscored the Lions 13-11 to end the second quarter in a tie, 28-28. 
 
The Lions came back for the second half and dominated the third quarter with a 15-3 run and four made three pointers with two from Natalia Klimek, one from Chelsey Gipson and one from Ciera Ellington. LMU closed out the third up 51-49. 
 
LMU continued to fight until the last second in the fourth quarter, but the Gaels went on a 12-0 run to take a lead over the Lions and finished with a 69-65 win.  
 
Chelsey Gipson scored her season high in points and in rebounds, with 16 and six, respectively. Ellington and Johnson also led the team in points with 13 and 12. Johnson led the team in steals with four, while Meghan Mandel led the team in blocks with two. Ellington and Johnson both had three assists a piece. 
 
The Lions shot 38 percent from the field, 37 percent from behind the arch and 80 percent from the free-throw line. LMU had four total blocks, seven total steals and 42 total rebounds. 
 
The Lions will be back home in Gersten Pavilion next week to host San Francisco and Santa Clara.