SANTA CLARA, Calif. – LMU women's water polo did not allow a seven-goal halftime deficit in the 2024 Golden Coast Conference Championship Game to deflate the team. The Lions rallied from down 9-2 at halftime to force overtime with only one second half goal allowed and earn six additional minutes in the tournament. While Fresno State did score the only goal of the overtime session, LMU's historic comeback showed the tremendous heart that the team plays with.
 
The Bulldogs, now winners of four-consecutive GCC Tournaments, scored the game's first three goals before Ruth Arino Ruiz put the Lions on the board. Fresno State took a 4-1 lead in the final minute of the first quarter.
 
The deficit grew to 7-1 until the 1:40 mark of the second period when Anna Tarantino scored for the Lions. Fresno State scored twice over the final 1:14 of the half to push ahead 9-2 heading into intermission.
 
Yanah Gerber scored in the opening minute of the second half, Noa Sasover followed a few minutes later, and then Tarantino scored on back-to-back possessions to bring the Lions back within striking distance, 9-6, with 2:52 showing on the third period clock. After the Bulldogs hit double-digits, Gerber and Skye Nankervis pulled LMU within two, 10-8, with 1:13 to play. Fresno State scored in the final minute of the quarter to rebuild their lead to three.
 
Gerber began the fourth quarter scoring in the first minute back in the pool and followed with a score at the 4:35 mark to bring it to a one-score game. LMU earned a 5-meter penalty with 44 seconds remaining in regulation for a chance to pull even for the first time all game. Arino Ruiz capitalized in the moment and beat the goalkeeper to even the score at 12-all.
 
The game remained tied until 1:48 in overtime when Fresno State scored the only goal of the extra period. Neither team scored in the second two-minute session.
 
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