The LMU women's basketball team got a big monkey off its back Saturday, cinching its first win of the season, a 57-54 final over Wyoming in the Consolation Game of the 2011 DoubleTree Los Angeles Westside Thanksgiving Classic.
A year ago, expectations were high and there was an excitement in the air for the 2010-11 season. But never able to put full squad on the floor due to injury, LMU closed out the year with a 11-18 overall record and 5-9, sixth-place finish in the WCC. Now, as the 2011-12 season gets underway, there is a renewed energy among the 14-member squad as they put the past behind them and look only to the future.
Briefly...
Alexis Love enters her second season with the Lions... gives LMU a big, strong inside presence... brings great work ethic, energy, and excitement... versatile enough to play inside or outside...
At LMU...
2010-11...
Appeared in 26 games, making one start... averaged 1.9 ppg and 2.0 rpg on 48.7% (19-for-39) shooting from the floor... averaged 9.4 minutes per game... sank 78.6% (11-for-14) at the line... led team with 13 blocked shots... scored season-high eight points to go along with four rebounds and two blocks in win over Cal State Fullerton (Dec. 7)... had six points, three boards, and three blocks in season-high 20 minutes vs. UCLA (Dec. 3)... also scored six points on 3-of-4 shooting with five rebounds in regular season finale win over San Francisco (Feb. 26)... pulled down five rebounds vs. Santa Clara (Feb. 24)... started and logged 18 minutes vs. Notre Dame (Dec. 30)...
High School...
Three-sport athlete at Norwalk High School... four-year letterwinner in basketball for Coach Richard Drake... 35th-ranked post in the country by Hoopgurlz.com... averaged a double-double in each of her last two seasons... First Team All-Suburban League... Honorable Mention Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team... voted team MVP as both a junior and senior... helped NHS reach CIF SoCal Division II AA playoffs in 2007, 2008, and 2009... teammate of current Lions Hazel Ramirez, Ashley Lovett, and Danielle Pruitt on Cal Sparks club team... also named all-area for softball and won two varsity letters in volleyball...
Personal...
Alexis Karlita Love was born on November 8, 1992 in Inglewood, Calif.... prefers to be called "Lex"... parents are Erick Gonzalez and Karlita Lopez-Gonzalez... chose LMU because of its academic programs and because it is close to home... also considered Wichita State, Columbia, Long Beach State, and UC Irvine... ranked in top 15% of her high school class... earned Student-Athlete Awards in each of her four prep years... majoring in physical therapy/athletic training...