LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Maya Hernandez scored 25 points and keyed a dominant fourth-quarter surge as Loyola Marymount rallied to defeat Santa Clara 92-85 in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game on Friday night at Gersten Pavilion.

The Lions, who trailed by as many as 10 points in the third quarter, outscored the Broncos 35-29 in a frantic final period to snap Santa Clara’s four-game winning streak. The victory improved Loyola Marymount to 8-6 overall, while Santa Clara fell to 12-4.

Hernandez, a 6-foot junior from San Jose, California, was the catalyst throughout, adding three steals and two assists in 31 minutes. Her performance was a season-high in scoring, surpassing her previous best of 18 points, and came at a critical juncture for the Lions. She scored nine points in the fourth quarter, including a crucial turnaround jumper and a driving layup during a decisive 12-2 run that turned a two-point deficit into an eight-point lead with under three minutes to play.

The most important part of the game was Loyola Marymount’s defensive intensity and offensive execution down the stretch. After Santa Clara’s Sophie Glancey hit a hook shot to give the Broncos a 64-62 lead with 7:55 remaining, the Lions locked in. They forced three Santa Clara turnovers over the next three minutes while reeling off 12 consecutive points. Hernandez started the run with a layup off an assist from Paula Reus Piza, and Andjela Matic capped it with a 3-pointer from the wing, assisted by Hernandez, to make it 74-64 with 4:56 left. Santa Clara never recovered, unable to get the deficit below five points the rest of the way.

Santa Clara was led by Sophie Glancey’s 20 points and a block in just 22 minutes. Maia Jones added 16 points and five assists, while Ashley Hawkins contributed 14 points and six assists. The Broncos started slowly, scoring only 11 points in the first quarter, but found their rhythm in the second, pouring in 24 to take a 35-33 halftime lead. They extended that advantage to 56-48 late in the third quarter before the Lions began their comeback.

Loyola Marymount received significant contributions beyond Hernandez. Jess Lawson scored 21 points, including several key free throws in the final minute to seal the win. Paula Reus Piza provided a vital spark off the bench with 13 points, and Andjela Matic orchestrated the offense with 11 points and five assists.

The Lions’ victory was a reversal of recent fortunes and pregame projections. Entering the contest, Loyola Marymount had lost two of its last three, including a double-overtime heartbreaker at Gonzaga. Santa Clara, meanwhile, had been rolling, winning its last four by an average of 25 points. National statistical models gave the Broncos a 74.3% probability of winning.

Defense and ball security proved pivotal. Loyola Marymount forced 18 Santa Clara turnovers, converting them into 23 points. The Lions also protected the ball well in the second half, committing only five turnovers after the break. Ava Schmidt was a defensive standout for Santa Clara with four blocks and three steals, but it wasn’t enough to contain the Lions’ late barrage.

The game was played before an intimate crowd of 303 at Gersten Pavilion. Both teams return to conference action on Sunday. Loyola Marymount hosts San Francisco, while Santa Clara returns home to face Gonzaga.