Box Score SAN FRANCISCO – Trailing by 12 at the end of the first half the University of San Francisco women's basketball team played arguably its best quarter in conference play in the third period.  Unfortunately for the Dons, visiting Loyola Marymount as able to ride out the Dons strong play and hold on for a 72-55 win on Monday afternoon at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
 
USF (4-5, 0-3 WCC) struggled from the field again today, shooting just 30.2 percent from the field (19-for-63), from beyond the arc the Dons power outage continues as USF was able to connect on just 5-for-26 from 3-point range. 
 
Loyola Marymount (3-6, 2-2 WCC) made it two in a row in conference play thanks to a strong second and fourth quarter that proved to the difference.  The Lions outscored USF 34-15 in those two periods.  LMU finished the day shooting 50.0 percent from the field going 25-for-48, they shot just 30.8 percent from beyond the arc.
 
"We have to find a way to make some baskets, our shooting percentage and the way we are moving the ball is a stark contrast to how we were moving and shooting during the non-conference season," said head coach Molly Goodenbour. "Earlier in the year we were doing a much better job of making the extra pass and finding the right person with an open look and we just aren't doing that right now. I'd like to see us be a little bit more competitive. It is hard for us because our inexperience to be consistently competitive is keeping us from winning games. Until we learn how to consistently be competitive it's going to be very challenging for us.  Our inexperience and our youth at every level is really showing as we are getting exposed by the other teams."
 
The Dons had three players finish in double figures and were once again led by UCU WCC Freshman of the Week Ioanna Krimili.  Krimili had 15 points along with seven rebounds, but was largely held in check in the second half – where she scored just five points, none in the fourth quarter.  Joining her in double figures was Marta Galic with 12 and Amalie Langer with 10. 


The Lions had five players in double figures led by Ciera Ellington's game-high 19.  She was joined by Meghan Mandel with 13, Ariel Johnson with 11, and Chelsey Gipson and Natalia Klimek with 10 each.
 
A tight opening quarter was broken open by 3-point field goal by Klimek on LMU's final possession.  The Dons trailed for most of the period but tied it up on Sofia Persson's two free throws with under a minute remaining.  Galic gave the Dons a spark when she followed up a missed three with a layup on a nice feed from Rathbun for a three-point play.  The triple by Klimek made it 21-18 and the Lions never looked back.
 
In the second quarter USF's offense stalled.  The Dons shot just 1-for-12 from the floor in the second period.  USF did convert from the free throw line, going 5-for-6 but were held scoreless over the final 3:46 of the quarter. During that time the Lions took advantage scoring seven points off turnovers and adding 10 points inside the paint, enabling LMU to build a 12 point halftime lead.
 
Out of the break, USF aided by full court pressure and the inspired play by Krimili and Galic, went on a 15-5 run.  A layup by Galic at the 6:09 mark made it 42-40 when LMU who quickly called a timeout.  Out of timeout the Lions regained control and ended the quarter with a seven point advantage.
 
In the final fame, USF once again struggled to find their shooting touch.  The Dons were just 1-for-9 from beyond the arc and 3-for-15 overall.  The Lions responded by scoring most of their points inside the paint.
 
The Dons will return to action on Thursday when they travel to Stockton, Calif., to take on Pacific.  That game is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start time.