CLAREMONT, Calif. - Jordan LaCour broke a 7-7 tie with 1:54 to play as the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's water polo team defeated LIU 8-7 on Friday night at Axelrood Pool. 

CMS also fell in its first game of the day to California Baptist 15-7, as it moves to 5-7 overall on the year. 

CMS never led in the first half, but came back to tie the Sharks five times as the score was deadlocked 5-5 at intermission. Natalie Stearns then had several key saves to shut out the Sharks in the third quarter, as CMS went ahead 7-5 on a pair of goals from Grace Clark, one in the third and one with 5:50 to go in the fourth. 

LIU finally was able to break the second-half ice with 3:19 to play, and then tied it at the 2:23 mark, but LaCour was able to find space in front of the cage to convert with 1:54 to go. 

Fiona Murphy then stole the ball away on the next LIU possession. Maci Rippo had a big save in front to give LIU a chance, and the Sharks earned an exclusion with nine seconds left, but their attempt at a tying goal sailed wide as the Athenas held on.  

Christina Marlow and Valerie Wraith each had two goals, joining Clark and LaCour for a four-way tie for team-high honors. Caitlin Muñoz had two assists, two steals and four drawn exclusions. 

Clark had three goals in the opening game against California Baptist, but the Lancers were able to break open a game that was tied 2-2 midway through the second quarter. CMS was within 5-3 late in the half after a Clark goal, but CBU scored six straight, two to close out the half, and the first four of the second half to pull away. 

CMS will finish play at the Claremont Convergence with a 9:45 game tomorrow against UC Irvine, and a 4 p.m. contest against Wagner.