Gabby Green, the all-time leader in steals for Loyola Marymount University’s women’s basketball team, has signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA.

“I am super excited for this opportunity,” said Green after the announcement April 12. “It has always been a dream of mine to get to this next level. This journey has been a roller coaster, but my faith in God never wavered and I thank my parents for always believing in me and being my number one supporters, and also my number one critics. Thank you to everyone at LMU. Go Lions!”

A transfer from Cal, Green quickly became one of the Lions' strongest assets on offense and defense. Averaging 3.0 steals per game, the Oakland native also is No. 7 in the LMU record books in both points per game (13.3) and assists per game (4.1), and this year helped lead the Lions to their first post-season stint in 15 years (the WNIT).

During the regular season, Green scored 25 points (plus seven rebounds and four steals) in a win over No. 23 UCLA. She ended her collegiate career with 1,011 points, 637 while at LMU (the rest at Cal) and is the first athlete under head coach Charity Elliott to sign with a WNBA team.

Baseball

Leading the West Coast Conference at 11-3 (22-12 overall), the Lions beat San Diego twice this weekend, 10-4 and 3-2 with clutch hitting and stout pitching.

On April 12, LMU rode seven strong innings from starter Codie Paiva (5-2) while stacking runs early and often. Junior first baseman Trevin Esquerra slugged his 12th homerun and a single, drove in two, and leads the team with 12 HRs, 41 RBIs and a .325 average. Dylan Hirsch doubled, singled and drove in three.

The following day, Josh Agnew pitched six innings to get the win, with Nick Frasso getting his fourth save pitching the last two innings. Brandon Shearer had three hits including the game-winning double in the sixth that broke a 2-2 tie.

After completing their series with San Diego on April 14, LMU hosts UC Riverside April 16 before heading north to play three games at St. Mary’s in Moraga.

Softball

LMU posted a shutout sweep of San Diego April 13, 2-0 and 8-0, led by the twin goose-egg efforts of Hannah Bandimere (complete game four-hitter) and Samantha Manti (complete game five-hitter).

In game one, sophomore third baseman Andrea Gonzalez drove in both runs with a double in the first and a homerun in the third. In the nightcap, Megan Dedrick had a two-run single and Delanie Wisz a two-run double in the first inning to ignite a 10-hit attack.

The Lions conclude their series with San Diego April 14, then host New Mexico State April 15 before traveling to Santa Clara for three games on April 19 (2) and 20.

Women's water polo

LMU (18-9 overall, 4-2 in conference) defeated No. 25 Cal Baptist (Riverside) 9-5 on April 13, and host Concordia University April 17 before the conference championships April 26-28 in Fresno.

Mike Nelson is the former editor of The Tidings (predecessor of Angelus News.)

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