Preview: Pacific Looks to Avenge Loss as Loyola Marymount Aims for Season Sweep

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The Loyola Marymount Lions will host the Pacific Tigers in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball rematch on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at Gersten Pavilion.

The Lions (12-8 overall) decisively won the first meeting this season, defeating the Tigers 74-54 on Jan. 17 in Stockton. Loyola Marymount enters the contest looking to rebound from a 60-69 road loss to San Diego last Saturday. Pacific (8-12) seeks to end a two-game skid after falling 61-68 at San Francisco on the same day.

A key matchup will feature Pacific guard Sydney Ward against Loyola Marymount’s Maya Hernandez. Ward, coming off a 13-point, 3-assist performance against San Francisco, will need to be more productive than in the Jan. 17 loss to LMU, where she was held to just 2 points in 18 minutes. Hernandez, a consistent scoring threat for the Lions, averaged 19.3 points in three games last week, including a 17-point, 7-rebound effort in the loss to San Diego. She scored 14 points in the earlier victory over Pacific.

Loyola Marymount has found success at home this season, including recent wins over Portland and Oregon State. The Lions’ offense, paced by Hernandez and Jess Lawson—who posted 23 points and 10 rebounds against San Diego—will test a Pacific defense that has allowed an average of 69.2 points per game.

Pacific’s offense relies on Ward and forward Winner Bartholomew, who scored a team-high 19 points against San Francisco. The Tigers must improve their ball security and shooting efficiency after being held to 54 points in the first matchup.

The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. PST tipoff. Following this contest, Loyola Marymount will host Seattle on Saturday, while Pacific’s next game is at home against Santa Clara on Feb. 5.