March 1, 2008
Box Score
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Four University of San Diego women's basketball players scored in double-figures and two recorded double-doubles, as the Toreros knocked off Loyola Marymount University, 63-55, in the West Coast Conference regular-season finale Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the Toreros finish the regular-season with a 16-12 overall record and a 7-7 mark in the WCC, good for a third place finish and the No. 3 seed in the WCC Tournament this upcoming weekend. USD will take on Portland in a 6 p.m. game on Thursday in the opening round of the WCC Tournament at USD's Jenny Craig Pavilion. With the loss, the Lions fall to 15-14 overall and 7-7 in the WCC. USD holds the tie break over LMU for the No. 3 seed by virtue of a season sweep over the Lions.
Sophomore forward Morgan Henderson led the team in scoring with 15 points going 6-for-9 from the field. Kiva Herman and Amanda Rego added in 10 points apiece with Rego notching in a double-double with 12 assists. Amber Sprague was the final USD player to have a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. As a team, USD shot 46 percent from the field and held a 47-44 advantage on the glass.
The Toreros came out of the gates hitting their first six shots of the game to take a 11-2 lead and force the Lions into an early timeout with 16:16 remaining in the first. Sprague ignited the run with a lay-up and Henderson hit a three-pointer to cap things off.
The Lions then came roaring back with a 14-5 run to tie things up at 16-all on a Lisa Helmers three-pointer with 11:05 remaining in the first half.
After the Lions took their biggest lead of the half at 21-18 on a Jenna Sybesma lay-uo, a Henderson lay-up got things rolling for USD who went on a 6-0 run to regain the lead, and the Toreros would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the first half and took 31-27 advantage into the break.
In the second half, the Lions came out firing on all cylinders, as they opened the frame with a 11-2 run to take a 38-33 lead with 16:16 to go.
However USD got hot, tying the game at 43-all before Herman hit three long jumpers and Henderson a three to pull ahead, 52-47 with 6:52 left. Helmers cut short the run with a big three from the corner to bring the Lions back within two but USD continued its charge with a three-pointer by Sam Child and a lay-up by Rego putting San Diego ahead nine, 59-50, with 3:43 remaining.
San Diego never looked back as they took advantage of several missed free-throws down the stretch from their opponents and held on to claim the win.
