LONG BEACH, Calif. – #19 LMU women's water polo (3-4) jumped ahead early on Saturday but could not hold off #t-16 Long Beach State in a road non-conference battle. The Beach pulled away late for an 8-6 win.
 
LMU jumped ahead 2-0 in the first quarter with goals by Melyssa Moore and Taylor Enright.
 
The Beach responded with the first two of the second period to even the score up at 2-all. LMU briefly retook the lead as Ryan-Marie Ickes scored nearly halfway through the quarter. Long Beach State closed out the half with the final two goals to carry a 4-3 lead into intermission.
 
Tara DeBrabander converted a penalty shot to open the third quarter and even the game at 4-4-. After LBSU pushed back ahead, Ickes leveled things with her second goal of the game. The Beach closed out the period with the final two goals.
 
DeBrabander helped cut LMU's deficit in half less than a minute into the final period, scoring a powerplay goal with the Lions on the advantage. LBSU pushed ahead by two with 6:20 to play, and neither team were able to score again for the remaining six-plus minutes of play.
 
LMU has one remaining game on the schedule as the Lions vie for an invite into the GCC Tournament. The Lions will host the conference leaders in Pacific Saturday, April 17, for an 11:00 a.m. contest.