LOS ANGELES – Loyola Marymount University women's basketball players Meghan Mandel and Ariel Johnson both tied their career highs against the San Diego Toreros, with 16 and 23, respectively. An overall team effort from the Lions led to a tight game, but LMU lost to USD 74-64 in Gersten Pavilion on Monday night. 
 
The Lions battled it out in the first quarter, as the Toreros made the first basket, but Johnson tied things up right away, after going 2-2 at the line. After several lead changes and tied scores, a three-pointer from Chelsey Gipson gave the Lions a 23-21 lead to end the first quarter. 
 
The Toreros opened the second quarter with a 6-0 run to take the lead. Another three-pointer by Gipson tied things up at 33-33, but USD gained momentum and closed out the half up 41-35. 
 
The Lions continued to fight in the third, as the Toreros only outscored the Lions by one point in the quarter. The Lions left the third down 53-46. 
 
Johnson scored the last basket for the Lions in the fourth, a three-pointer which tied her season high of 23. Despite the efforts, the Lions weren't able to take the win, and closed out the game 74-64. 
 
Johnson led the team in points, while Mandel had 16 and Gipson had 15. Mandel also led the team in rebounds and in blocks with eight and four. CiCi Ellington, Cassie Gordon, Mandel and Johnson all had two steals a piece. Gordon led the team in assists with three. 
 
The Lions shot 40 percent from the field and 37 percent from behind the arch. LMU out-shot the Toreros at the free-throw line, shooting 71 percent, compared to USD's 59. The Lions had 28 total rebounds, 10 total steals and 11 total assists. 
 
LMU will be back in action on Saturday to head to Pepperdine.