SAN DIEGO — Maya Hernandez and Jess Lawson gave LMU everything they had, but it wasn't enough to overcome a surging San Diego team in the second half as the Toreros pulled away for a 69-60 victory Saturday at Jenny Craig Pavilion.
Hernandez was electric early, scoring eight of LMU's first 10 points and sparking the Lions to a 15-12 first-quarter lead. The senior forward was a force on both ends, recording multiple steals and converting fast-break opportunities while setting the tone defensively with blocked shots.
Lawson took over from there, showcasing her complete offensive arsenal. The guard hit a buzzer-beating stepback jumper to end the first quarter and continued her hot shooting in the second, draining a crucial 3-pointer that gave LMU a 26-23 lead. She finished the first half with several clutch pullup jumpers and drew fouls while attacking the basket, helping the Lions build a 31-29 halftime advantage.
The third quarter proved pivotal as LMU extended its lead to 47-42 before USD's Kylie Ray made three straight baskets giving the Toreros a one-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
San Diego's momentum carried into the fourth, where Ray continued to frustrate the Lions. The Toreros opened the final period with back-to-back 3-pointers from Ray and Jayden Rhodes, building a 54-47 lead that the Lions could never erase.
The Lions battled back multiple times, refusing to go quietly.
Allison Clarke hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 60-53, before Lawson converted a three-point play to cut the Torero lead to four with four minutes left.
Ray converted 7-of-8 free throws in the final minute to ice the victory for San Diego as the Lions were forced to foul.
The loss was particularly frustrating for the Lions, who controlled much of the game's tempo and led for significant stretches. Hernandez provided a very complete performance, finishing with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals and a blocked shot. Lawson was the standout offensive performance with a double-double of 23 points and 10 boards. She chipped in four steals as well.
LMU will look to bounce back from this tough road loss and build on the positives from the first-half performance when the team returns home.
