(Los Angeles, CA) - USF sophomore guard scored a career-high 20 points, but it was not nearly enough as USF dropped a 76-70 West Coast Conference women's basketball game in Gersten Pavilion on Saturday. The Lady Dons (10-9, 3-3 WCC) drop their third straight league game after a 3-0 start, while the Lions (13-6, 4-2 WCC) win their eighth home game of the season and second straight without junior All-WCC guard Rosa Bernasconi, who tore her ACL last week.

USF was dominated on the board as the Lions held a decisive 42-34 edge and also held a commanding lead at the charity stripe, attempting 30 free throws and made 21, compared to 11-for-16 converted by the Lady Dons. San Francisco was saddled with foul trouble from the get go as LMU enjoyed the double-bonus just inside of the 10 minute mark in each half and USF's Kim Whisler fouled out in just 19 minutes of action, while two others played significant minutes with four fouls apiece.

Leading the way for the Lady Dons offensively were the outstanding game-high effort of Hernandez, while freshman forward Mary Jane Krueger added 15 points. Junior forward Molly Shanley chipped in 10 points and pulled down five rebounds for USF. Whisler scored eight points and pulled down a team-high eight boards for the Lady Dons, but was on the bench for much of the second period.

USF led by as many as nine at the 15:17 mark, but LMU roared back, helped in part to 12 free throws after the intermission. LMU took a 60-58 lead at the 8:40 mark and never looked back as USF would tie, but never lead.

USF plays their third consecutive WCC game on the road on Wednesday when they play the Gaels of Saint Mary's in Moraga. Game time is at 7:30 PM.