Jan. 5, 2008

Box Score

Youngstown, Ohio - Host Youngstown State used a 14-3 run that bridged the two halves to build a lead and then hit a couple of key baskets to keep charging Loyola at bay in a 70-58 win over the Ramblers this evening at the Beeghly Center. Maggie McCloskey poured in a game-high 19 points to lead Loyola.

"Even though I am not happy with the result, I thought we played much better than we did on Thursday in Cleveland," said head coach Shannon Reidy. "Our defense was better and we played with more intensity, however, we still turned the ball over too much and could not find a way to get points at crucial times."

The Ramblers opened the game strong and surged to a 15-11 lead on a Cierra Thurman hoop. The basket capped a stretch in which Thurman scored 10 of LU's 12 points following a game-opening three-pointer from McCloskey. Youngstown responded by scoring seven of the next nine points to take a one-point lead but hoops from Brittney Marshall and Elyse VanBogaert helped the Ramblers regain the lead, 21-18, with under eight minutes left. In a half of runs, the Penguins had the next one, reeling off 11 in a row to take their largest lead of the period (29-21) but consecutive McCloskey treys helped the Ramblers stay close and another Marshall jumper gave the visitors a 32-31 lead with just over one minute to play. However, a Heather Karner bucket gave YSU the lead back and the hosts took a three-point lead into halftime, hitting two free throws with six seconds left following a technical foul on the Loyola bench.

Two perimeter jumpers opened the second half scoring for YSU, as Loyola struggled to regain an offensive rhythm. A three-pointer from Keisha Collins was LU's only hoop in the first five minutes as Youngstown extended to a 12-point lead on a Tiara Scott hoop. The Ramblers hung in there and held YSU scoreless for over three minutes in the middle part of the half but were unable to capitalize. A tough three-point play in the paint by McCloskey again made it an eight-point game and, after a defensive stop, the Ramblers had a chance to pull even closer. However, a turnover led to a three-pointer on the other end and another turnover on the ensuing possession was converted into an old-fashioned three-point play to give YSU its biggest lead of the game (60-46) at the 5:46 mark. Five points from VanBogaert helped Loyola regroup and pull within eight yet again but YSU's Velissa Vaughn hit another key shot and the Ramblers would get no closer over the final three minutes.

McCloskey's 19 points led four Ramblers in double figures. She was joined by Collins (12 points, six rebounds, seven assists), Thurman (10) and VanBogaert (10). Karner and Scott had 17 apiece to lead Youngstown State, who also got 14 from Vaughn, who came into the game averaging 2.9 ppg.

Loyola returns home next week for a Thursday night (Jan. 10) game against Butler.