LOS ANGELES – The Lions came up short against the Portland Pilots, falling 83-48 in their conference home opener on Thursday night.

Brandi Williams was a bright spot for LMU, leading all scorers with 21 points, four rebounds and two assists. Williams got the Lions on the board early with a three-pointer, but the Pilots answered quickly with one of their own before taking control on an 11-0 run. LMU struggled to find their rhythm in the first quarter, shooting just 3-for-13 from the field and 1-for-5 from deep, as Portland built a 20-8 lead.

The Lions showed some life in the second quarter, improving their shooting to 41.7%, while Williams had her best stretch of the game. She hit 4-of-5 shots, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, for 11 points in the quarter. Even with the improved play, Portland outscored LMU and extended their lead to 42-23 at halftime.

After the break, Portland kept the pressure on, shooting a blistering 66.7% in the third quarter. The Lions saw contributions from multiple players, with Carly Heidger, Naudia Evans, Zawadi Ogot, and Maya Hernandez all getting on the board. However, the Pilots maintained a commanding 62-38 lead heading into the fourth.

The final quarter was a struggle for LMU as Portland stretched their lead to over 30 points with a 9-2 run. The Lions couldn't close the gap, and the Pilots walked away with the win.

The Lions will look to bounce back on Saturday when they take on the Saint Mary's Gaels at 2 PM in Moraga, CA.

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