LOS ANGELES - The Lions took care of business Saturday afternoon, beating the Pepperdine Waves 58-49 at Gersten Pavilion.
Everybody who hit the floor for LMU got on the scoreboard, making it a true team effort.
Naudia Evans led the way with 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Brandi Williams followed with 10 points and three boards, while
Allison Clarke and
Zawadi Ogot each added eight.
Pepperdine came out on fire, shooting 70% from the field and 75% from three in the first quarter. They outscored LMU 19-15 to take an early lead. The Lions responded in the second, with nearly everyone getting in on the action. Clarke's five points, plus back-to-back threes from Clarke and
Amelie Sitterud, gave LMU its first lead. The Waves snatched it back before halftime, though, leading 34-33 at the break.
LMU came out strong in the third, opening with a 6-0 run capped by a jumper from
Maya Hernandez to go up by five. The teams traded buckets, but Evans' buzzer-beater jumper kept LMU ahead 44-40 going into the fourth.
The Lions put the game away in the final quarter with a dominant 12-0 run, stretching the lead to 14. Pepperdine hit a late three, but it was too late. LMU locked in the win, 58-49.
The Lions next game is Thursday, Feb. 27, against the San Diego Toreros in San Diego, CA.
