LOS ANGELES – It was almost a tale of two halves Thursday night, but LMU fell short in their conference home opener against the Portland Pilots, 61-70.
 
Portland opened the game with two back-to-back layups, but a fast break jumper by Cassandra Gordon quickly followed to put the Lions on the board. Both the Lions and Pilots scored majority of their points in the pain this quarter; LMU with eight and Portland with 10.
 
In the second quarter the Lions shot 50% from the field, but only attempted eight field goals. LMU went into the half down by 14, 34-20.
 
Coming out of the locker room, the Lions gained the energy that made the comeback look possible. With 2:34 left Amaya Oliver made a layup that would spark a 5-0 run for the Lions. As the quarter was winding down, Gordon made two back-to-back jumpers that finally put LMU within nine of Portland, 53-42.
 
Start of the fourth, Ariel Johnson put LMU on the boards first with a two-point jumper from Oliver. At the 6:24 mark, LMU made two baskets that put the Lions within five points of the Pilots. Unfortunately, the Pilots followed with a six-point streak and eventually won the game, 61-70.
 
Johnson led the Lions with 18 points and five rebounds. Gordon chipped in 15 points as well. Oliver also finished the game in double digits with 10 points.
 
The Lions next game will be Saturday, Dec. 31, against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in Gersten Pavilion.
 
 
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