Loyola Women Try to End Losing Streak at 4 Games

The Loyola Marymount women’s basketball team is looking to turn itself around after a 2-4 start.

The Lions will play host to Cal State Fullerton at 7:30 tonight in hope of breaking a four-game losing streak, the last two at home. In those losses against Cal Poly Pomona and Arizona State the Lions tied the score at halftime but then were outshot.

“I think that we played better against Arizona State than we had in quite a while,” Coach Todd Corman said. “We’ve just been having problems holding the lead in the second half.”

The main problem has been the slow start of the bench players, according to Corman. After the loss of forward Regan O’Hara, who had played out her eligibility, Corman was counting on his bench to take up her part of the defensive and offensive responsibilities.

With five players scoring fewer than four points per game, they have not taken up the slack.

“The team has had some problems coming together and playing like a team,” Corman said. “It just hasn’t happened as quickly as we had hoped.

“We are also playing a much tougher schedule this year. It takes time to adjust to playing with better teams.”

The only injury has been costly. The senior team captain, 6-foot forward-center Michelle Bettencourt, has been out for two weeks with a sprained ankle and is expected to be out for another two weeks. Corman said she was the floor leader.

“Without her we’ve looked like we didn’t have someone directing the team,” he said. “She was our catalyst.”

The second forward position has fallen to 6-foot sophomore Joelle Longobardi, who is averaging 7.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

Tricia Gibson and Kristen Bruich have been among the leaders in rebounds and points after knee surgery in the off-season.

Gibson, a 6-3 junior center, led the team last year with 39 blocks and also did her part on the offensive side with 9.7 points per game. Most of her points came in the second half of last season. She is averaging 10.3 points and 3.3 blocks in the six games this season.

Bruich, a 5-8 junior guard, is leading the team at 17 points per game. Last year she averaged 10.5. Her rehabilitated knee has not slowed her. Bruich had 21 points against Pomona and 20 against Arizona State.

The Lions tied Pomona at 36 at the half and led late but lost, 82-71. Loyola and Arizona State were knotted at 35 after one half but the Sun Devils pulled away for an 82-72 victory despite 17 points and 12 rebounds by Gibson.

The only other bright spot for the Lions has been the play of 5-8 junior guard Lynn Flanagan, who is averaging 13 points.

Corman said the team is relying too much on the players who returned from last year. “The other players aren’t getting out there and trying to compete with the returnees,” he said.

After facing Fullerton, the Lions continue their home stand against Western Michigan on Monday and Cal State Hayward next Thursday.

“Right now I’m not planning any changes in the lineup, but if things haven’t turned around in two weeks there are going to be wholesale changes,” he said.