Update as of 5:10 PM: added box score and play by play
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Story and photos by Liz Alper
November 20, 2016 (San Diego) - After a big loss to crosstown rival USD, the lady Aztecs returned to the friendly confines of Viejas Arena to take on the Loyola Marymount Lions in a Sunday matinee.
LMU came out attacking; the Aztecs didn't tally until they got their first set of free throws. The Lions led 20-14 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, it was much more of the same. Despite big three pointers by senior guard Kymberly Ellison and junior guard McKynzie Fort, the Aztecs had no groove until the end of the half. They went to the locker room trailing by four, 32-28.
But in the second half, SDSU did a complete 180. They took their first lead of the game early. They were aggressive, attacked the rim and rebounded. It was an entirely different team. But it didn't take long for the Aztecs to return to their first half selves. They lost the lead and turned the ball over constantly. More sloppy play led to another sloppy quarter and the Aztecs trailed 47-42 after three.
In the fourth quarter, the Lions increased their lead big time and the Aztecs couldn't keep up. They amassed their biggest lead of the game, 10 points, with six minutes left in the game. The Aztecs trailed 54-44. The Aztecs whittled away at that gap and kept it relatively close for the rest of the game, but still ended up losing 60-53. The Lions pick up their first win of the season and both teams are now 1-3.
The Aztecs get a break before traveling to South Orange, New Jersey for the Seton Hall Tournament next week, where they’ll play two games. Their first is against Stacie Terry’s alma mater, the University of Texas at Arlington next Saturday. Tipoff is at noon Pacific time.