LOS ANGELES – The second-best offensive team in the West Coast Conference never found its groove as Santa Clara women's basketball fell 75-59 at Loyola Marymount Saturday.

The Broncos (8-8, 2-3 WCC) entered the game second in the conference in both points per game (74.3) and field goal percentage (44.9) but managed to shoot 30.3-percent from the field while being held under 60 points for just the third time this season.

It was just a three-point led for the Lions (6-13, 2-4 WCC) heading into the fourth quarter, but after a layup by Tamia Braggs with 7:38 to go in the period made it 50-47, Santa Clara went the next 5:45 without a field goal, getting just two free throws. LMU meanwhile continued to score and went on a 15-2 run to pull away.

The Lion's starters scored all but four of their points, led by Jasmine Jones' 21 thanks to going 10-for-12 from the free throw line while adding 13 rebounds for a double-double. Ciera Ellington also had a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds with Raychel Stanley adding 15 points and Chelsey Gipson chipping in 10. Aspyn Adams added seven with Laura Vaida scoring all four bench points for the Lions who shot 44.8-percent from the field.

Despite the shooting troubles, Santa Clara held a 26-25 lead at the half and even took a 34-33 lead at 6:04 left in the third quarter after Lexie Pritchard scored five in a row but LMU retook the lead on the ensuing possession and never gave it back.

Pritchard, making her third start in a row for an injured Tia Hay, finished in double-figures with 10 for the second time this season and second time since being inserted into the starting lineup. Pritchard also set a career high with five assists and matched a career high with five rebounds.

The tough day shooting began almost immediately as the Broncos missed 11 in a row from the field early in the first before they got their offense going and closed the period on a 15-0 run to take an 18-10 lead. Addi Walters got things started with a jumper and a triple with Emily Wolph and Merle Wiehl also connecting from distance.

Walters led the team with 14 points despite shooting just 5-for-19 from the field and 3-for-10 from beyond the arc. Wiehl added eight points and Wolph scored five with five assists while Lindsey VanAllen scored nine.

The Lions, however, responded with the first nine points of the second quarter, capped by back-to-back 3-pointers by Ellington that gave her team a 19-18 lead at the 7:53 mark.

NOTES

• Santa Clara is now 48-28 all-time against Loyola Marymount.
• With one block, Lauren Yearwood now has 104 in her career, good for fourth in Santa Clara history. Next up is Lindsey Leo (2010-13) with 113.
• Tamia Braggs made her sixth start in a row and Lexie Pritchard her third. Pritchard is in for Broncos' leading scorer Tia Hay who is out with a foot injury.
• Santa Clara's bench held a 25-4 advantage over LMU's reserves.

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The Broncos return home to take on No. 16/15 Gonzaga Thursday at 7 p.m.

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