LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — A dominant second-quarter surge and a relentless defensive effort propelled Loyola Marymount to a 72-62 victory over Pepperdine in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Gersten Pavilion.

The Lions, capitalizing on a staggering 21 turnovers by the Waves, turned those miscues into 28 points to seize control of the game and never relinquish it. The win improved Loyola Marymount to 16-8 overall, while Pepperdine fell to 15-10.

The game’s decisive stretch came in the second quarter. After a tightly contested opening period that saw the Lions hold a narrow 17-15 lead, Loyola Marymount’s defense ignited a game-altering run. The Lions forced eight Pepperdine turnovers in the quarter, converting them into easy transition opportunities. A 23-14 scoring advantage in the frame, fueled by that defensive pressure, sent Loyola Marymount into halftime with a commanding 40-29 lead.

Pepperdine’s offensive struggles were encapsulated in a disastrous third quarter, where they managed only eight points. The Waves shot just 22 of 46 from the field for the game, but their 47.8% shooting was undone by the constant stream of turnovers and a stark disparity in ball movement. Loyola Marymount recorded 16 assists on their 24 made field goals, while Pepperdine managed only three assists all night.

The Lions’ backcourt duo of Jess Lawson and Andjela Matic orchestrated the victory. Lawson, a guard from Las Vegas, filled the stat sheet with 17 points, four assists and was a central figure in the defensive havoc, contributing to the team’s 16 steals. Matic, from Serbia, added 13 points and three assists, hitting three critical three-pointers.

Pepperdine’s offense ran primarily through Elli Guiney, who scored a game-high 22 points, and Lina Falk, who added 15. However, the Waves’ attack was largely individualistic and stymied by the Lions’ active hands. Pepperdine’s starting backcourt of Taija Sta. Maria and Meghan Fiso combined for just five assists against 10 turnovers.

Loyola Marymount also received significant contributions from its frontcourt. Maya Hernandez scored 14 points and grabbed several key offensive rebounds, while Carly Heidger provided 11 points and a defensive presence inside.

The most important part of the game was Loyola Marymount’s overwhelming defensive performance in the second and third quarters, which transformed a close contest into a comfortable lead. The Lions’ ability to convert Pepperdine’s mistakes directly into points created a gap that the Waves’ late push could not overcome.

Pepperdine mounted a frantic comeback attempt in the final quarter, outscoring Loyola Marymount 25-17 behind 12 points from Guiney. The Waves trimmed the deficit to as few as seven points in the final minutes, but the Lions consistently answered at the free-throw line, where they made 18 of 24 attempts, to secure the win.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Loyola Marymount, which also defeated Pepperdine in overtime on Jan. 8. The Lions finished the game with significant advantages in assists (16-3), steals (16-3), and points off turnovers (28-18), underlining the defensive foundation of their win.

A sparse crowd of 193 at Gersten Pavilion saw the Lions execute a game plan focused on defensive pressure and efficient offense, posting an offensive rating of 96.8 points per 100 possessions compared to Pepperdine’s 88.5.

Loyola Marymount will look to build on the conference win when it hosts Gonzaga on Saturday. Pepperdine aims to rebound quickly as it travels to face San Francisco on Saturday.