Game 1:
LMU Lions (5-5, 0-0 WCC) at
Saint Mary's Gales (6-5)
Jan. 11, 2021 | 6:30 p.m. PST | Moraga, Calif. | UCU Pavilion
Stream: WCC Network
Series History: Saint Mary's leads 26-13 (overall) and 5-13 (in Moraga)
Last Meeting: Saint Mary's 69, LMU 58 [2/18/21 at LMU]
Game 2:
LMU Lions (5-6, 0-1 WCC) vs.
San Diego Toreros (9-4, 1-0 WCC)
Jan. 13, 2021 | 7:00 p.m. PST | Los Angeles, Calif. | Gersten Pavilion
Stream: WCC Network with Brendan and Gary Craig
Series History: San Diego leads 23-12 (overall) and 11-6 (in Los Angeles)
Last Meeting: San Diego 74, LMU 64 [2/8/21 at LMU]
Game 3:
LMU Lions (5-6, 0-2 WCC) vs.
BYU Cougars (13-1, 3-0 WCC)
Jan. 15, 2021 | 2:00 p.m. PST | Los Angeles, Calif. | Gersten Pavilion
Stream: WCC Network with Brendan and Gary Craig
Series History: BYU leads 18-3 (overall) and 7-3 (in Los Angeles)
Last Meeting: BYU 69, LMU 50 [2/6/21 at BYU]
LOS ANGELES - After three weeks away from competition, the LMU Lions women's basketball team returns to action with three games that will kick off WCC play. The extended pause came following the Lions' previous four games being postponed due to COVID-19 related issues across the conference.
The trio of games will begin on the road against the Saint Mary's Gales, a game originally scheduled for Jan. 6, 2021. The Lions enter the game on a three game winning streak, one that dates back to Dec. 7, 2021. Alexis Mark was dominant on the boards in the Lions' last victory, grabbing 16 boards, a new career high for the redshirt-sophomore. Mark will look to continue cleaning the glass in Moraga, while also pushing for her second double-double of the season.
The Gales return a few key veterans, including Taycee Wedin, who had quite the non-conference slate. Not only did Wedin hit a buzzer beater three on the road at Costal Carolina, but she also joined the 1,000 point club just a couple of games later. She will undoubtedly be looking to put more points up from behind the arc on Tuesday.
Following the Lions' conference opener against the Gales, they will return home to face two of the top four squads in the WCC, starting with the San Diego Toreros. A team that is notorious for their relentless full court pressure, the Toreros will bring the heat on both ends of the court. Like the Lions, the Toreros also return four key players for their fifth year (Kendall Bird, Jordyn Edwards, Sydney Hunter, and Myah Pace).
However, LMU's fifth year veterans, Jasmine Jones and Meghan Mandel, will be primed and ready to face San Diego's pressure. The pair saw little to no action against the Toreros last season due to injury, but have returned to their usual form this year.
Jones finished non-conference play on fire, notching her 1,000th career point and adding to her already illustrious career rebounding total of 644 boards. Mandel, the blocks specialist, rejected three shots in her first three minutes back on the court this season, and managed to outdo that with six blocks in the win over Texas State.
Finally, the Lions will wrap the week up against the #18 ranked BYU Cougars. The star-studded team from Provo, Utah will be the biggest test of the season for the Lions, thus far. Coming off of a trip to the NCAA Tournament last season, the Cougars are hungry to return to the dance and have played that way through their first 13 games. With only one loss on the season, BYU has proved they will again be a force in the WCC.
Ariel Johnson and Khari Clark will be key inside and outside for the Lions on both ends of the floor. Johnson and Clark are first and second respectively in points and points per game for the Lions. Johnson has shown her composure game-after-game and continues to be a scoring threat through all four quarters. Clark has continued to blossom in the paint, pulling down a team leading 18 offensive rebounds and scoring in double-figures multiple times this season.
All three games can be seen on the WCC Network, and live stats can be found on LMULions.com.
