Dec. 7, 2010
LOS ANGELES - Candice Nichols' three-point play with 9.6 seconds remaining capped a 20-point scoring night and brought host Loyola Marymount all the way back from a seven-point deficit and lifted the Lions to the 77-76 victory over Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday night at Gersten Pavilion.
The Titans (3-6 overall) had a chance to make it a three-point game with junior Lauren Chow at the line and a 76-74 lead, but she missed the front end of the one-and-one setting up the final play. Nichols drove to her right and bounced the lay-up in from the baseline, drawing the foul in the process.
After missing her first two attempts from the line, she calmly sank the free throw, but Fullerton still had one chance and just under 10 seconds to go the length of the court without a timeout.
With five seconds on the clock, Chow got the ball inside, but her drive was smothered by Camille Buckley and the Lions (5-4 overall) corralled the ensuing loose ball to run out the clock.
Junior Megan Richardson finished with a team-high 19 points - 15 of those in the second half - to go with three rebounds and five assists. Senior Lyndsey Grove added 16 points, but only two of those after halftime, and was joined in double figures by Chow (13) and senior Katie Avila's career-high 12 points. Senior Jenna Breite finished with a career-high tying 13 boards to lead the Titans.
Nichols hit 9-of-19 from the field and added four boards, four assists, and three steals. Buckley finished with a double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds - 11 on the offensive end - while Hazel Ramirez and Renahy Young also added 13 points in the win.
LMU, which shot just 36 percent from the floor for the game to Fullerton's 51 percent, hit on just over 59 percent from the field in the second half, outscoring the Titans, 46-38 in the second period and outrebounding Fullerton, 44-37, for the game, including a 26-13 advantage on the offensive glass.
The Titans return to action on Thursday (Dec. 9) at 7 p.m. for only their third home game of the season, hosting Sacramento State at Titan Gym.