Loyola Women Suffer 1st Home Loss, to Cal Poly Pomona, 82-71

The Loyola Marymount women’s basketball team suffered its first loss at home this season, falling to Cal Poly Pomona, 82-71, on Saturday.

The Lions, now 2-3, fought back from a 13-point deficit late in the first half to tie the game at 36-all going into halftime.

After the lead changed hands several times, Loyola forged ahead and led by five points with 4:16 left.

But Cal Poly (5-0), sparked by guard Serenda Valdez, ran off 11 straight points and pulled away in the final minutes. Valdez scored eight points in the rally.

Pomona All-American Niki Bracken led all scorers with 34 points, 20 in the first half.

Loyola was led by its guard tandem of Kristen Bruich, who had 21 points, and Lynn Flanagan, who had 19. Flanagan led the Lions’ second-half charge, scoring 17 points after intermission, most of them while Loyola built a 67-62 lead.

The Lions, who had been 2-0 at home, play host to Arizona State at 3 p.m. today.