ATHLETICS | The Loyola Marymount women’s basketball team upset No. 25 BYU at Gersten Pavilion on Thursday night, snapping the Cougars’ undefeated conference record, as well as their 11-game winning streak with a 61-58 win. On Saturday, the Lions put on a dominating performance against San Diego, as the team picked up an easy, 83-57, win on National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Saturday afternoon in Gersten Pavilion. WCC action continues on the road this week as LMU travels to Santa Clara and San Francisco.
The LMU men’s basketball team never trailed Thursday night at home as the Lions defeated Pacific, 60-42, in what Head Coach Mike Dunlap called, “the best defense we’ve played since I’ve been here.” LMU then went into Provo, Utah, and led the Cougars at the half before BYU put together a strong final stretch to take the game. LMU will split the week at home and away again this week: The Lions host San Diego on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Hank’s House before traveling to Portland, Oregon, for a Saturday night showdown in the Rose City.
This February, as the country recognizes Black History Month, LMU Athletics is celebrating and documenting those who made us great. In collaboration with the LMU Office of Black Student Services, we will pay tribute to alumni by sharing short interviews and recognizing individuals at upcoming men’s and women’s basketball games. In our interviews, former student-athletes reflect on their time at LMU, provide advice to current Lions, and share what Black History Month means to them personally. We begin this week with former men’s basketball star Richard Dixon who will be recognized at the men’s basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 7.
The LMU swim team jumped into the pool at Burns in high winds and heavy downpours on Saturday to compete against San Diego State University in their last home meet of the season. Following the senior day performance, the season will continue with the PCSC Championships from Feb. 13-16 in La Mirada, California.
On the courts this weekend, the men’s tennis team will be home for a pair of matches: on Saturday, the Lions host New Mexico at 11 a.m., and on Sunday UNLV comes to the bluff for a noon start.
Last week, the Loyola Marymount women’s tennis team put up a fight against USC, but couldn’t hold on and dropped the match, 4-2.
Golfer Riley Elmes has not shown any let up in his final semester of competition. The LMU senior led the team with a 69-68-65—202 three-round score and finished in a two-way tie for second in the Arizona Intercollegiate at 11-under par. The team will next compete at The Farms Invitational in Rancho Santa Fe, California, on Feb. 11-12.
The Loyola Marymount women’s water polo team knew the challenge ahead of them at Saturday morning’s UCLA Mini Tournament. The No. 15 Lions (2-2) took both No. 3 UCLA (10-0) and No. 5 Hawaii (6-1) to the final minute of play before falling just short in each game. LMU is scheduled to compete in UCSD’s Triton Invitational this Saturday and Sunday.
The Loyola Marymount softball team was picked to finish second in the conference by the league’s head coaches, announced by the WCC on Wednesday. LMU returns five starters this season, including 2019 Preseason ALL-WCC Softball Team, Andrea Gonzalez and 2019 Preseason All-WCC Softball Team pitcher Hannah Bandimere. The Lions will kick off their season at the Cal State Fullerton Classic starting Feb. 8. The team’s first game will be against Utah State, following with Idaho State, Northwestern and Buffalo.