STOCKTON, Calif. - In a dominant performance, the Pacific women's basketball team (7–9, 2–3) led for all but 52 seconds against LMU (5–12, 2–4) in the Tigers first 20+ point win over a WCC opponent in precisely two years. Senior
Sam Ashby reached 500 career points in the 73-52 win.
"We had great energy from the jump," said Head Coach
Bradley Davis. "That set the tone for the entire game. I thought that each player that came in gave big minutes, whether it was two, six, 15, 30, or whatever it was, you got to credit this one to the players. They had great energy and great effort all night long."
Ashby led the team in scoring for the second straight game with 18 points, adding six rebounds and two assists. Junior
Madelene Ennis tied her career-high with nine rebounds, while sophomore
Anaya James dished out seven assists and snagged two steals. Junior's
Liz Smith and
Cecilia Holmberg both had 10 points.
LMU scored the game's first basket, but Smith quickly responded with a three. The Lions would briefly retake the lead before sophomore
Elizabeth Elliott responded with a layup to retake the lead for the Tigers. Pacific would not trail again in the game.
The second quarter was the game's lowest scoring, with 20 total points. The Tiger defense shined during the quarter, holding the Lions to seven shots and forcing six turnovers. Pacific had 10 offensive rebounds in the second, which led to six Tiger free throws.
Pacific continued to dominate the glass in the third quarter, outrebounding LMU 13-3, including six offensive rebounds. Ashby had her best quarter of the game, scoring 12 points and helping the Tigers to a 15-point lead heading into the final quarter.
Holmberg scored eight of her ten points in the fourth quarter, helping to keep distance between the two squads. Pacific kept LMU to three made field goals in the fourth, including LMU going just 1-7 from three. It is the first time Pacific has won two straight WCC games since the 2020-21 season when the Tigers won their final five games.
Pacific is back on the road next week at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan 12, taking on San Francisco.
