April 27, 2008

Los Angeles, CA - The 2008 Western Water Polo Association Women's Water Polo Championship will come to a close with a familiar ring to it. Tournament host and No. 2 seed Loyola Marymount (20-10) will take on top-seed UC Davis (25-8) in the championship game at the Burns Recreation and Aquatics Center Sunday at 4 p.m. The two teams will meet in the title game for the fifth time since 1999 and the fourth consecutive time.

The two teams have won eight of the last nine titles, seven since 2001 by LMU, who are the defending champions playing in their own pool. The two teams met twice this season, both winning at their home venue. The Lions won 9-8 in overtime on March 8 at the Burns Center while the Aggies won on April 5, 9-7, in Davis.

LMU comes into the tournament with a 14-3 win over Cal State San Bernardino in the quarterfinals and a 4-3 win over No. 16 UC San Diego in Saturday's semifinal. The Aggies defeated Cal State Monterey Bay 11-6 in the quarterfinals and Santa Clara in the semifinals, 5-4.

LMU's Nicole Hughes leads the tournament with nine goals in two games, including a career-best seven against CSUSB. UC Davis is led in scoring by Laura Uribe with five goals. However, it has been the team's defense that has them in the title game.

The Aggies and goalie Casey Hines has allowed just five goals in their two games. Hines has made 16 saves in her two games. LMU had done one better. Sophomore goalie Eliana Arellano has held opponents to just three goals in back-to-back games and has made 13 saves.

The championship game will complete a 20-game, three-day tournament. The complete schedule including a link to live stats.