Dec. 2, 2012

Box Score

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LOS ANGELES - The LMU women's basketball team put up a fight against No. 19/21 UCLA Sunday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion, but could not overcome an 18-point first-half deficit in a 86-66 final.

Hazel Ramirez led LMU (5-4) with 17 points and five assists, but was the only Lion to reach double figures. Alex Cowling was one point shy of a double-double, finishing with nine points and a team-high 10 boards.

UCLA (4-1) had five players in double figures, including double-double performances by Markel Walker (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Alyssia Brewer (14 points 11 rebounds). The duo led the Bruins to 44 points in the paint and a 55-36 rebounding edge over the Lions.

The teams traded baskets in the early going as a Mackenzie Kerins layup at the 15-minute mark tied the game, 11-11.

The Bruins then went on their first of two big first-half runs, outscoring LMU 12-2 to open up a 23-13 lead at the 11:52 mark. Taylor Anderson's layup and free throw midway through the half made it 23-16, but the Bruins quickly pushed the spread back to 13, 31-18 with 7:29 remaining.

A Deanna Johnson jumper with six minutes on the clock cut the spread back to 11, but UCLA responded with a 9-0 run over a three-minute span, opening up their largest lead of the game, 40-20. Danielle Pruitt hit a 15-foot jumper and Hazel Ramirez knocked down five straight points, including a baseline three-pointer. But the Lions surrendered five straight Bruin points to close out the half, including a buzzer-beating three by Markel Walker as UCLA took a 45-27 lead into the break.

Both LMU and UCLA coaching staffs coached in bare feet Sunday as part of the Bruins' partnership with Samaritan's Feet. The Bruins hosted a shoe drive prior to the game, collecting new athletic shoes and socks to children in need.

The Lions return to Gersten Pavilion, where they are a perfect 4-0, on Wednesday, Dec. 5, hosting UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m.