ATHLETICS | The memorable 2018-19 men’s basketball season ended after the Lions advanced to the semifinal round of the Roman College Basketball Invitational. The team climbed back from 15 points down in the second half to make it a one-possession game, but South Florida pulled away to take the semifinal round of the CBI, 56-47. LMU closed out the season with a record of 22-12, 11 more victories than the previous season. The 22-win season is tied for third all-time in program history with the 1948-49 team, and trails only NCAA Tournament teams in 1987-88 (28 wins) and 1989-90 (26 wins).
The softball team played two games last week, picking up a Tuesday sweep over Cal Baptist, with a pair of 3-2 wins. West Coast Conference play begins on Friday against BYU with three games at Smith Field.
After opening the week at Page with a loss to No. 1-ranked UCLA, LMU won another conference series taking two of three from the Pilots in Portland. The Lions picked up a 2-1 Friday night win, scored 10 runs to win on Saturday night, before falling in a back-and-forth Sunday game. LMU hosts a Tuesday night game against Cal State Northridge before continuing conference play at San Francisco over the weekend.
The women’s water polo team celebrated its senior class with a win over No. 15 Fresno State to move to 2-1 in GCC play. Prior to the game, all seven of LMU’s seniors were recognized in front of families and friends. Conference action continues as the Lions hit the road for the first time in over a month for games at Santa Clara on Friday then at Pacific on Saturday.
The men’s tennis team moved to 3-0 in the WCC with a pair of home wins this weekend. The Lions swept St. Mary’s on Friday, and then battled back to defeat Pacific, 4-3, on Saturday. LMU continues conference play this weekend from the Pacific Northwest with matches at Portland and Gonzaga.
The Loyola Marymount women’s tennis pair of Veronica Miroshnichenko and Eva Marie Voracek was named the West Coast Conference Doubles Team of the Week, announced by the conference on Tuesday. The Lions were rewarded with their highest national ranking in program history at No. 43, according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. After splitting on the road this past weekend, the Lions host Portland on April 5, then Gonzaga on April 6 at the LMU Tennis Center.
On the sand, the LMU beach volleyball team won all four matches at the Santa Cruz WCC Mid-Season Invitational. The Lions won 19 of the 20 sets they played in the dominating performance, and have a big week ahead against No. 1 UCLA on Wednesday and in Bakersfield for a pair on Saturday.
The Loyola Marymount men’s and women’s track and field teams took their talents to the campus of UCLA for the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival on Friday. Several student-athletes on both squads set new career bests at the meet.
The San Diego Crew Classic is on tap this weekend. Come support your fellow Lions by cheering on our men’s and women’s rowing teams as they take on rowers from around the world at the 46th annual San Diego Crew Classic.
