LAS VEGAS – The Loyola Marymount University women's basketball team has advanced to the second round of the West Coast Conference Championships after senior Chelsey Gipson set LMU's All-Time record for three-pointers made with eight, while also tying the WCC Tournament record. The Lions advance after an 85-73 win over Pepperdine. 
 

"Great team win today," said head coach Charity Elliott. "I am so proud of our resiliency and fight for 40 minutes. "Chelsey played like a senior today and Khari stepped up big time. Having 19 assists shows what a team win this was. This is March and we are excited to still be standing."

 
The Lions opened up the game to a neck and neck start, as the Lions took the lead, but then the Waves tied things up. The teams tied the score five times during the quarter. Down 20-15 with just three seconds left, Gipson made her first three-pointer, which closed out the quarter with the Lions being down just one possession, 20-18. 
 
The Lions gained momentum in the second quarter, as the team took the lead after a jumper from Ciera Ellington. The Lions continued to extend their lead and closed out the half up 41-35. 
 
The Lions continued the effort into the third quarter, and took their first double-digit lead of the game. Gipson tied her previous career high in threes, which was five, and then hit another three to break her record. LMU closed out the third up 65-49. 
 
The Lions continued to hold a double-digit lead for most of the fourth quarter. Gipson tied LMU's All-Time record for three-point shots made in a game with seven, and hit her last three of the game with just four second left, giving her eight and setting a new LMU record. The Lions closed out the game with 85 points, their highest scoring game of the season. 
 
Gipson led the team in points with 26, and now is one of few Lions to have over 1,000 career points. Her eight threes not only land her the No. 1 spot in LMU history, but it also ties for first in WCC Tournament history. The last person who made eight threes at the tournament was Caroline Gruening from Santa Clara in 2002. 
 
Khari Clark set her career high in points with 20, while also putting up two blocks and leading the team in rebounds with five. Nicole Rodriguez and Ellington also had five rebounds a piece. Gipson, Jasmine Jones, Ariel Johnson and Clark all had two steals each. 
 
The Lions shot 52 percent from the field, 50 percent from behind the arch and 88 percent from the free-throw line, compared to the Waves' 42, 28 and 73, respectively. LMU had eight total steals, four blocks, 33 rebounds and 19 assists. 
 
The Lions' win advances them to the second round of the WCC Tournament, where they will be taking on the fifth seeded Portland. LMU went 0-2 against the Pilots this year. Portland is on a two-game winning streak, with its last win being a 101-94 overtime win against Pepperdine. 
 
Last season, the Pilots entered the tournament as a No. 4 seed and won the conference tournament. 
 
Tip-off will be at 11 AM PST. The game can be streamed through the WCC Networks or through BYUtv.