California Baptist University
Loyola Marymount
Lancers Battle With Lions in GCC Opener
4/26/2019 3:32:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
FRESNO, Calif. – A great defensive first quarter, strong finish and outstanding play from its true freshman highlighted California Baptist University's first-round Golden Coast Conference game.
The 25th-ranked and fifth-seeded Lancers fought from the first to the last whistle, as they looked to knock off the third seed and 12th-ranked Loyola Marymount Lions. One big run proved to be the difference for LMU in a 13-8 win at the Fresno State Aquatics Center on Friday afternoon.
Jamie Hutton continued her incredible finish to the year with a four-goal performance against the stingy Lions' defense. It was quite the follow-up to her six-goal outing (the second most in CBU single-game history) at Azusa Pacific last Thursday.
Jamie Hutton powers home a goal from deep to get CBU on the board. LMU leads 2-1 early in the quarter. #LanceUp pic.twitter.com/ft28B8aK1R
— CBU Lancers WWP (@LancersWWP) April 26, 2019
Junior goalie Grace Ramirez came up with several big plays in the cage, and finished with nine saves and two steals. The Lancers' defense started out strong, but LMU got its offense going after it drew three ejections on CBU's starting center defender.
Unselfish play made up CBU's offense, as all eight goals came on assists. Lizette Perez and Kira O'Donell had two each, along with four and two drawn ejectinos, respectively. Katie Quon also had a goal and an assist, while true freshman Maddie Schwegler scored two goals in the final two-and-a-half minutes and also had an assist on Friday.
LMU improves to 20-9 this year and will face second-seeded San Diego State at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The 14-17 Lancers will face seventh-seeded Santa Clara at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Fans can follow the entire GCC Championships this weekend, with live stats on the FOSH and live video provided by Fresno State.
If the Lancers pulled off the victory over LMU, it would have been their first over a team in the NCAA top-15. CBU's biggest ranked wins are a pair over the No. 15 teams in the country (CSUN on Feb. 1, 2014 and UC Santa Barbara on April 9, 2011).
Both defenses were locked in early, with LMU getting the first goal about halfway through the first quarter. The Lions took a 2-0 lead into the second quarter after they scored with 52 seconds left in the first.
The Lancers lost the opening sprint of the second quarter, but got a big stop on defense. Hutton then stepped up and scored CBU's first goal from deep to make it 2-1 42 seconds into the second. Hutton tied the game about two minutes later off a pass from Quon.
2️⃣➖2️⃣
— CBU Lancers WWP (@LancersWWP) April 26, 2019
Jamie Hutton scored again to even the score about three minutes into the second quarter❗️❗️❗️#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/IWk1PQjnxz
LMU took back momentum with a 6-0 run for an 8-2 lead. CBU had no quit and fought its way back into the game on a 3-1 run to make it 9-5 with 2:22 left in the third quarter. Hutton scored consecutive goals to make it 8-4 and then Meza answered an LMU goal with her first.
Jamie Hutton gets her hat trick about two minutes into the third quarter. This is her fourth multi-goal game of the season, and continues a five-game scoring streak for her.
— CBU Lancers WWP (@LancersWWP) April 26, 2019
Oh, and she's a freshman!#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/5MYlxACQOz
The Lions then scored four-straight goals for a 13-5 cushion with 2:43 left in regulation. CBU showed no quit and ended the game on a 3-0 run. Schwegler scored two of those goals from center, while Quon had an assist and a goal late.
Madde Schwegler and Katie Quon score back-to-back goals for the Lancers. Quon lobs hers in from deep after assisting on Schwegler's goal at center. #LanceUp pic.twitter.com/26i61qFLkk
— CBU Lancers WWP (@LancersWWP) April 26, 2019
True freshman Maddie Schwegler scores two goals in the final 2:23 of regulation, with her last coming on this pretty backhand. The Lancers end the game on a 3-0 run in a 13-8 loss to 12th-ranked LMU.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/bKBi1GjOyl
— CBU Lancers WWP (@LancersWWP) April 26, 2019
