PORTLAND, OR – The Lions came up short against the Portland Pilots on Thursday night with a final score of 58-52.
 
The game was a true definition of a tale of two halves.
 
Nicole Rodriguez led the Lions with 13 points, while Amaya Oliver and Alexis Mark contributed 10 points each.
 
Both Oliver and Mark achieved double-doubles, with Oliver securing 10 rebounds and Mark grabbing an impressive 12.

Cynthia Ezeja also pitched in nine points and seven rebounds.
 
The Pilots got on the board first, but the Lions quickly followed with a layup by Oliver, assisted by Mark. The Lions took off from there, shooting 7-12 from the field at 58%. The Lions defense held the Pilots to just five points for the quarter, shooting 11.8%. LMU would lead Portland by 10 in the second quarter, 15-5.
 
A big three ball from Dayle Dunn kick-started a 7-0 run for LMU in the second quarter and gave them their biggest lead of the half, 22-7. The Lions continued to hold the Pilots to single digits until they hit a free throw with 3:06 on the clock, making the score 22-10. Foul trouble started to hurt the Lions when they fouled the Pilots six times. The Pilots were 66.7% from the line, shooting 8-12, eventually getting within nine at the end of the half, 28-19.
 
The Lions lead started to slip more when the Pilots scored 10 consecutive points and took their first lead since the beginning of the game. The quarter remained tightly contested, with the score tying three more times before Portland scored the last five points of the quarter, leading LMU 44-39. 
 
The Lions didn't give up in the fourth when a three by Rodriguez sparked a 7-0 run, tying up the score at 46. The score tied one more time before the Pilots ultimately took the lead and won by six, 58-52. 
 
LMU will take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs this Saturday, Feb. 10, at 2 PM in Spokane, WA.
 
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