LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Andjela Matic scored 23 points to lead Loyola Marymount to a 74-61 win over San Diego in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Gersten Pavilion. The Lions built a commanding 22-5 lead after the first quarter and maintained control throughout. Maya Hernandez added 17 points for Loyola Marymount, which improved to 19-8. San Diego, led by Kylie Ray’s 17 points, fell to 9-20. The Toreros shot just 1 for 13 from 3-point range and committed 19 turnovers, which the Lions converted into 17 points. Loyola Marymount shot 44.9% from the field and had 11 assists.

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Andjela Matic scored 23 points and Loyola Marymount used a dominant first quarter to build an insurmountable lead, defeating San Diego 74-61 in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Gersten Pavilion. The Lions, improving to 19-8 overall, seized control from the opening tip, outscoring the Toreros 22-5 in the first period. San Diego’s offensive struggles were immediate and profound, managing just two made field goals in the quarter while committing five turnovers against an active Loyola Marymount defense. Matic, a guard from Ub, Serbia, orchestrated the Lions’ attack efficiently, adding five assists and three steals in 35 minutes. Her backcourt partner, Jess Lawson of Las Vegas, Nevada, contributed 15 points and five assists. Forward Maya Hernandez of San Jose, California, provided a significant interior presence with 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field. San Diego, which fell to 9-20, never recovered from the early deficit despite outscoring Loyola Marymount in the second, third, and fourth quarters. The Toreros trimmed the lead to 35-23 by halftime and got as close as nine points in the second half, but each rally was met with a timely response from the Lions’ offense. The most critical sequence came early in the third quarter. After San Diego’s Kylie Ray opened the second-half scoring with a layup to cut the deficit to 37-27, Matic intercepted a pass on the ensuing Toreros possession and converted a jumper. Just 10 seconds later, she stole another San Diego pass, leading to a Paula Reus Piza layup and a 41-27 Lions advantage, prompting a San Diego timeout. That quick four-point burst off turnovers stifled the Toreros’ momentum and re-established a comfortable margin Loyola Marymount would maintain the rest of the way. San Diego was plagued by poor shooting throughout. The Toreros shot just 38% from the field and a dismal 1 for 13 from three-point range. They attempted 31 free throws, making 22, but could not overcome their inefficiency from the floor. Loyola Marymount shot 45% and committed only 10 turnovers compared to San Diego’s 19, leading to a 17-14 advantage in points off turnovers. Kylie Ray led San Diego with 17 points and four assists. Olivia Owens added 11 points and Hallie Rhodes finished with 12. The Toreros’ leading scorer, however, was hampered by seven turnovers. Loyola Marymount’s victory avenged a 69-60 home loss to San Diego on Jan. 24. The Lions’ offensive rating of 97.0 points per 100 possessions starkly outpaced the Toreros’ mark of 78.5, underscoring the gap in efficiency. The Lions’ win, witnessed by an announced crowd of 432, was in line with pregame analytics, as National Statistical’s ELO system gave Loyola Marymount a 94.5% probability to win. Loyola Marymount next travels to face San Francisco on Thursday. San Diego returns home to host Pacific, also on Thursday.

Preview: San Diego at Loyola Marymount Women’s Basketball LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The Loyola Marymount Lions will look to continue their push near the top of the West Coast Conference standings and avenge a recent loss when they host the San Diego Toreros in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Gersten Pavilion. The Lions (17-8 overall) enter on a five-game winning streak, including a 72-63 victory over Gonzaga on Feb. 14. Jess Lawson has been a consistent force, averaging 15.2 points over her last five contests. She posted a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds in the teams’ first meeting this season, a 69-60 road loss to San Diego on Jan. 24. San Diego (9-18) snapped a four-game skid with a win over Seattle on Feb. 7 but has since lost two straight, including a 56-56 home defeat to Gonzaga on Feb. 12. The Toreros’ success hinges largely on the play of guard Kylie Ray, who exploded for 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the January win over LMU. She is averaging 21.3 points over her last three games where she played significant minutes. Despite the disparity in records, the first matchup suggests a competitive rematch. San Diego’s defense held LMU to 35.8% shooting from the field in the January victory. The Lions, however, have found their rhythm since, winning seven of their last eight games and boasting a more balanced offensive attack, with Andjela Matic and Maya Hernandez providing key support alongside Lawson. For Loyola Marymount, the game represents an opportunity to solidify its conference standing and exact revenge. For San Diego, it is a chance to play spoiler and build momentum behind Ray’s standout play. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles.