Dec. 28, 2012

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LOS ANGELES - Still seeking the season's first road win, the Lions head to Laramie, Wyo., to take on the University of Wyoming on Saturday, Dec. 29. The teams will go head-to-head in the Cowgirls' Arena-Auditorium, which has the distinction of being the highest NCAA Division I basketball venue in the country with an elevation of 7,220 feet. Tip-off in the Lions' final non-conference game is set for 1:00 p.m. Pacific.

FOLLOW THE LIONS
Saturday, Dec. 29 - LMU at Wyoming, 1:00 p.m. (PT), Arena-Auditorium
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LIONS' LAST LINE
The Lions moved to an even 6-6 on the season with an 84-71 loss at Cal Poly on Dec. 20. A slow start combined with the hot hand of Cal Poly's Ariana Elegado put the Lions in an early hole that they, despite taking a brief one-point lead late, could not come back from. Elegado poured in 23 points, including 20 in the first half as Cal Poly built a 42-30 lead. Alex Cowling had 16 points to lead a trip of Lions in double figures. Hazel Ramirez had 15 and Mackenzie Kerins chipped in a 14 point, 11 rebound double-double.

INSIDE THE LIONS
• In it's final non-conference game of the season, LMU will be seeking its first true road victory at Wyoming. The Lions' lone win away from Gersten Pavilion this season was a 75-74 final against Tulsa at the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas.
• LMU and Wyoming last met on Nov. 26, 2011 in the consolation game of LMU's DoubleTree Los Angeles Westside Thanksgiving Tournament. The Lions held on for 57-54 victory that afternoon, earning their first win of the season.
• This year's meeting will be the third all-time at Wyoming's Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, which has the distinction of being the highest NCAA Division I basketball venue in the country with an elevation of 7,220 feet. The 200,000 square-foot facility was built in 1982 at a cost of $15 million and still holds the largest indoor seating capacity in the state at 15,000.
• Entering the week, the Lions rank No. 1 in the WCC in scoring at 68.7 ppg. They also rank second the nine-team league in three-point field goal percentage defense (26.8) and first in steals per game (12.8).
• Individually, Alex Cowling is third in the WCC in scoring (16.2 ppg) while Hazel Ramirez comes in at No. 10 (11.4 ppg). Ramirez is also second in assists (5.8 per game) and Mackenzie Kerins is fifth in rebounds (7.7 per game).
• LMU's win over Oregon State on Dec. 15 was just the sixth all-time against current members of the Pac-12, though of those all-time victories, one came against Colorado and two came against Utah before both were Pac-12 members. The last Lion victory over a Pac-12 program was on Nov. 21, 2001 at Arizona State (70-63).
• Either Alex Cowling or Hazel Ramirez have led the Lions in scoring all but once so far this season. Cowling holds the mark on eight occasions, including four +20-point games, while Ramirez has led the team three times. Freshman Deanna Johnson is the only other Lion to lead the scoring column in a single game.
• With 153 steals through 12 games (12.8 per game), the Lions are already just 14 swipes from last year's total.
• Alex Cowling's 28-point, 10-rebound effort against Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 20 was her 23rd career-double-double and second of this young season.
• Mackenzie Kerins recorded three consecutive double-doubles in the Lions three-game home win streak and added her fourth of the season on Dec. 20 at Cal Poly, this after recording just one double-double during her first two seasons of play.

ABOUT THE WYOMING COWGIRLS
Wyoming is 9-2 on the season, including a perfect 4-0 on its home court. The Cowgirls have two four-game win streaks this season. They last took to the court on Dec. 18, topping Ball State, 64-61. For the season, Wyoming averages 69.3 ppg while holding opponents to just 59.1. Four players average double figures including Kayla Woodward (13.4 ppg), Kaitelyn Mileto (13.0 ppg), Chaundra Sewell (12.7 ppg) and Ashley Sickles (11.7 ppg). Sewell also leads the Cowgirls with 9.7 rpg as the squad pulls down nearly seven boards per game more than their opponents. The Cowgirls shoot a very healthy 45 percent from the field and 42 percent from three.