ATHLETICS | The West Coast Conference announced the conference slate of games for men’s and women’s basketball teams; LMU men’s team will open against PCH Cup rival Pepperdine on Jan. 3. LMU women’s team begins conference play at home against reigning WCC champion Gonzaga on December 29.
Game times and full schedules for both teams, as well as television partners for the 16-game men’s schedule, will be announced later. Season tickets for the men and women are now on sale. On the men’s side, there is also an incentive program that features the chance to win a customized LMU Adidas men’s basketball jersey. Mini plans will go on sale on Sept. 17 and single game on Oct. 15. Season ticket holders will be able to purchase single game tickets early on Oct. 8. The 2018 West Coast Conference Basketball Championships will take place from March 7-12 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
In other men’s basketball news, the Lions are currently touring Australia. LMU arrived in Melbourne on Aug. 11. In the first competition of the trip, LMU used a second-quarter surge to capture a 90-54 victory over the Aspiring Stars All-Star team. Fans wishing to take in some of the sights from the victory can do so by visiting the photo gallery posted at LMULions.com. They are scheduled to play games in Melbourne on Aug. 14 and 15, before departing on Aug. 17 for their final game in Cairns, home to the Great Barrier Reef. The team will depart Cairns on Aug. 20 to return to Los Angeles.
The LMU spirit squad will perform under new guidance this year. LMU Athletics announced the hiring of Nicole Martin as head coach of the Spirit Squad. Martin will oversee the cheer and Lion Pride dance teams as well as LMU’s beloved mascot, Iggy the Lion. Martin has worked in the cheer industry for more than 20 years, including 15 years of coaching at the youth and high school levels. She is co-founder and president of the nonprofit We Cheer For You, Inc., which raises funds to provide scholarships to youth level cheerleaders who aspire to cheer in high school.
Fall sports are upon us, and now is the time to lock in your seats for all of the action. In addition to season ticket packages for men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball, single game tickets are now available for 2018 LMU men’s and women’s soccer. The men’s team will hold 11 matches at Sullivan Field in 2018 and the women will host nine. The teams begin their home slates on the same day with a doubleheader on Friday, Aug. 24. Group tickets are also available for parties of 15 or more for $5 a ticket. Group experiences are for youth eighth grade and younger and this year they include taking the field with the Lions, participating in a halftime game, and a high-five tunnel. Current LMU students, staff and faculty members receive free admission with a valid OneCard.
After a successful 2018 softball season, which ended in a postseason NISC championship, head coach Sami Strinz-Ward has added three transfers to an already strong Lions roster for next season. Megan Dedrick, Sam Manti and Desiree Moreno will all be joining the LMU softball program this year as the Lions look to build on the success of last year.
