LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The Weber State women’s basketball team earned a 68-60 road win over Loyola Marymount on Saturday at Gersten Pavilion. The Wildcats used a strong second half to pull away from the Lions. After the teams were tied 27-27 at halftime, Weber State outscored Loyola Marymount 41-33 the rest of the way. Hannah Robbins led Weber State with 15 points. Antoniette Emma-Nnopu and Lanae Billy each added 14 points. Maya Hernandez scored a game-high 16 points for Loyola Marymount. Zawadi Ogot contributed 13 points and Andjela Matic had 10. Weber State improved to 5-5 overall. Loyola Marymount fell to 5-5.

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and critical plays in the final minutes, the Weber State Wildcats secured a hard-fought 68-60 victory over the Loyola Marymount Lions in a nonconference women’s basketball game Saturday at Gersten Pavilion. The Wildcats, who improved to 5-5, used a decisive 8-0 run late in the fourth quarter to break a 55-55 tie and pull away from the Lions, who also moved to 5-5 on the season. The win was a significant road result for Weber State, which entered the contest as a considerable underdog according to predictive metrics. For three quarters, the game was a tense, back-and-forth affair with neither team able to establish a commanding lead. The first half ended with Weber State holding a narrow 27-25 advantage, and the third quarter concluded with the Wildcats ahead by just two points, 47-45. The Lions, led by Maya Hernandez’s interior presence, consistently answered Weber State’s pushes, tying the game at 55 on a Carly Heidger three-pointer with just over two minutes remaining. The most important sequence of the game unfolded immediately after that tie. Weber State’ Hannah Robbins, who finished with a team-high 15 points, drove for a layup to put the Wildcats back ahead. Following a defensive stop, Antoniette Emma-Nnopu found Robbins again for another layup, stretching the lead to four. Sydney White then drew a foul and sank two free throws, and after another Lions turnover, Emma-Nnopu was fouled and made one of two from the line, capping the 8-0 spurt that gave Weber State a 63-55 cushion with only 28 seconds left. Loyola Marymount could not recover from that final defensive stand and scoring burst. Emma-Nnopu, a guard from Geelong, Australia, was instrumental in the victory, contributing 14 points, three assists, a steal and a block. Her backcourt mate, Lanae Billy, also scored 14 points. Their combined efforts helped offset a game-high 16-point performance from Loyola Marymount’s Hernandez, a 6-foot forward from San Jose, California, who also blocked two shots. The Lions’ Andjela Matic of Ub, Serbia, added 10 points and four assists, while Zawadi Ogot of Upland, California, chipped in 13 points. Weber State’s defense, however, forced 20 Loyola Marymount turnovers and held the Lions to just 15 points in the pivotal fourth quarter. The announced attendance was 196. Weber State concludes its brief California trip against Omaha on Sunday in Los Angeles, while Loyola Marymount hosts Southern Utah.

Weber State, Loyola Marymount Set for Nonconference Clash LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The Weber State Wildcats and Loyola Marymount Lions meet in a nonconference women’s basketball matchup Saturday at Gersten Pavilion, with both teams looking to carry momentum from decisive midweek victories into the holiday break. Weber State (4-5) arrives after an 84-47 rout of La Sierra on Wednesday. The Wildcats have shown a stark contrast in performance, averaging 80 points in their four wins but just 57.6 in their five losses. Guard Hannah Robbins leads the attack, coming off a 21-point, four-assist performance against La Sierra. Over her last five games, the standout guard is averaging 14.4 points and 3.0 assists. Loyola Marymount (5-4) is also fresh off a dominant home win, having stifled Chapman 81-27 on Tuesday. The Lions have relied on a balanced defense, holding opponents to 58.2 points per game in their five victories. Guard Andjela Matic has been a consistent contributor, scoring in double figures in four of her last six outings, including a 17-point effort against Chapman. The game presents a contrast in paths. Weber State seeks its first true road win of the season (0-3) and aims to build consistency before opening Big Sky Conference play on Jan. 1. Loyola Marymount, which has won three of its last four, looks to solidify its record before a tough two-game road trip to Gonzaga and Washington State to close December. A key matchup will be on the perimeter between Robbins and LMU’s defensive unit. The Wildcats’ offense flows through Robbins, while the Lions will counter with their own backcourt catalyst in Matic. Saturday’s contest tips off at 2 p.m. PST. Weber State remains in Los Angeles to face Omaha on Sunday. Loyola Marymount hosts Southern Utah on Sunday before its upcoming road swing.