Jan. 4, 2007

Box Score

CHICAGO - Jenna Real scored a game-high 25 points and Marquise Hanser became the 17th player in Loyola history to score 1,000 points as the Ramblers eased past Youngstown State, 67-55, tonight at the Gentile Center. Loyola improves to 2-11 (1-2 Horizon) while the Penguins slump to 2-11 (0-3).

Loyola enjoyed the better of the play throughout the first half and used a 10-2 run to turn an 11-7 lead into a 21-9 bulge after 11 minutes. Real had four points in the spurt, which was capped by a Jennifer Juergens hoop, but Youngstown responded by reeling off seven straight points to close back within five. It was Loyola's turn to answer and it did just that as a pair of Maggie McCloskey free throws kickstarted an 11-2 spurt - highlighted by Hanser's milestone-eclipsing hoop at the 5:38 mark - that had Loyola ahead 32-18 at the 2:59 mark and primed to blow the game open. However, the Ramblers failed to score the rest of the period and had to settle for a 32-25 halftime lead after Lauren Branson banked in a three-pointer just before the buzzer. Loyola's initial defense was strong in the opening 20 minutes as YSU hit just 10-of-40 (.250) from the floor but the Penguins managed to corral 14 offensive boards in the period. As a result, 17 of the Penguins' 25 first-half points were second-chance points.

The second half was more of the same, with Loyola getting to the verge of opening it up only to see Youngstown hit a couple of shots to stay close. Three straight hoops from Real to open the half, again, pushed the lead to 13 (38-25) but the offense went stagnant and the Penguins were able to get as close as four after Kira Mowen banked in a three-pointer from the top of the key. Another bucket from Real later in the period pushed the lead back to nine and, after Youngstown was able to get as close as three, the Ramblers were able to convert down the stretch as an offensive rebound and putback from Juergens preceeded a three-point play from Real that salted away the win.

Real's 25 points were a season-high and she narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with eight boards. She was joined in double figures by Hanser and McCloskey, who each finished with 13 points. Juergens also came up just shy of a double-double, totaling eight points and a career-high 11 rebounds.

Loyola returns to action on Saturday afternoon with a matinee against Cleveland State. Tip-off at the Gentile Center is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.