Game 1:
LMU Lions (5-10, 0-5 WCC) at
Pepperdine Waves (4-8, 0-3 WCC)
Jan. 25, 2022 | 7:00 p.m. PST | Malibu, Calif. | Firestone Fieldhouse
Stream: WCC Network
Last Meeting: LMU 85, Pepperdine 73 [3/4/21 at WCC Tournament Round 1]
Game 2:
LMU Lions (5-10, 0-5 WCC) at
Pacific Tigers (4-11, 1-4 WCC)
Jan. 27, 2022 | 7:00 p.m. PST | Stockton, Calif. | Alex G. Spanos Center
Stream: WCC Network
Last Meeting: Pacific 73, LMU 69 [2/20/21 at LMU]
Game 3:
LMU Lions (5-10, 0-5 WCC) vs.
Saint Mary's Gales (9-7, 3-2 WCC)
Jan. 29, 2022 | 12:00 p.m. PST | Los Angeles, Calif. | Gersten Pavilion
Stream: WCC Network with Brendan and Gary Craig
Last Meeting: Saint Mary's 82, LMU 63 [1/11/22 at Saint Mary's]
LOS ANGELES - The much anticipated PCH Cup rivalry matchup between LMU (5-10, 0-5 WCC) and Pepperdine (4-8, 0-3 WCC) will finally tip-off on Tuesday at 7 p.m., after two postponements due to COVID-19 protocols. Both squads will be seeking their first conference victory after rough starts to WCC action.
The Lions come off of a pair of games in the Bay Area, where they fell to Santa Clara 51-62 and to San Francisco 49-70. The trip was highlighted by strong performances in the first and fourth quarters, proving what this Lions squad is ultimately capable of. Ariel Johnson continued her scoring prowess in the loss to the Dons, scoring a team-high 18 points and adding 8 rebounds for good measure.
The Waves have spent their first three conference games, all on the road, in Northern Calif. Their three-game losing skid comes after a nearly four-week gap between competitions, with their last non-conference game being a win against Boise State on Dec. 18, 2022. Freshman Ally Stedman leads the way in points per game for the Waves with an average of 11.5 on the season, drawing recognition from the conference.
Following the trip to Malibu, the Lions will head back up the coast for a Thursday night battle with Pacific, tipping off at 7 p.m.. The new-look Tigers will be facing the Lions for the first time since losing star players Valerie Higgins and Brooklyn McDavid to graduation.
Their young squad has faced some stiff competition throughout the season, including meetings with Stanford, Oregon State, and BYU, three nationally-ranked teams. The Tigers secured their first conference victory of the season after a dominating 24-point fourth quarter at home against Pepperdine, knocking off the Waves 65-58.
The three-game week will be capped off with a rematch against Saint Mary's on Saturday at 12 p.m., but this time the Lions will get the Gales in Hank's House. LMU's trip to Moraga just over two weeks ago fell short as the Lions were defeated 63-82. The Gales', Taycee Wedin, was lights out from three, going six-for-nine to help her squad hit a season-high 13 triples.
The Lions had three players score in double-figures in the loss and shot their highest percentage from the field (43%) and from three (35%) in conference play. Johnson shot a commanding 5-for-6 from the field with 16 points, and Nicole Rodriguez followed close behind with 15 of her own on 7-of-11 shooting.
All three games can be seen on the WCC Network.
