LMU Basketball: Women travel north seeking first WCC win

After dropping a pair of home contests last week, Loyola Marymount University’s women’s basketball team (4-11) tries to snap a three-game losing streak this weekend with West Coast Conference games in Northern California.

A recap of last week’s games: 

Dec. 29: 44-59 vs. BYU: The powerful Cougars opened a 21-12 first quarter lead and were never seriously threatened in the WCC opener at Gersten Pavilion. Chelsey Gipson was the only Lion in double figures with 10 points and led her team with six rebounds.

Dec. 30: 59-67 vs. San Diego: A rocky start was too much to overcome for the Lions, who fell behind 19-9 after one quarter, rallied to within four at the half and trailed by five entering the final period. San Diego then stretched its lead to as high as 13 before a late LMU rally fell short. For the Lions, Gipson scored 16, Ciera Ellingtom 13 and Jasmine Jones 12, while Raychel Stanley had 12 rebounds.

Upcoming: LMU takes on Pacific (8-5, 1-1 WCC) on Jan. 2 in Stockton, where they will encounter three former local Catholic prep stars playing for the Tigers, all juniors: Isabel Newman and Valertie Higgins (both from Chaminade) and Brooklyn McDavid (Alemany). Higgins (16.1 points per game) and McDavid (15.2) are Pacific’s leading scorers, while Newman tops the team in three--point field goal percentage.

On Jan. 4, the Lions travel to Moraga to play St. Mary’s (7-6, 2-0 WCC)  before coming back home to play San Francisco Jan. 9 and Santa Clara Jan. 11.