Dec. 3, 2006

Box Score

Peoria, Ill. - Host Bradley used a 14-2 run midway through the second half to break open a close game and Loyola hit just one basket over the last 8:26 in a 79-59 Bradley win over the Ramblers this afternoon at Robertson Fieldhouse in Peoria, Ill. Loyola drops to 0-7 on the year while Bradley gets back to the .500 mark (4-4) for the year.

"For the second straight game, our execution down the stretch was our downfall," said head coach Shannon Reidy. "It was the final two minutes on Thursday night against Valpo and the last 8-10 minutes today that killed us. Right now we have one consistent senior and then it's five freshmen that we are counting on and we have not been able to overcome the freshmen mistakes that you're going to get when you have them playing so many important minutes. Our shot selection and decision making was not good today and 24 turnovers were entirely too many."

Loyola fell behind 5-0 before getting right back into the game and a Jenna Real hoop drew Loyola within one, 13-12. Bradley responded with a 9-1 run to open a 22-13 lead but the Ramblers battled back behind a pair of three-pointers from Marquise Hanser to get within four and a long three-pointer from Danielle Nabolotny later made it a 33-32 game with 1:35 on the clock. The teams traded hoops before a Kelly Krumwiede hoop in the final half-minute gave Bradley a 37-34 lead at intermission.

Real opened the second half scoring with a nice move in the lane but the Ramblers just could not get over the hump, as Bradley reopened an eight-point edge (51-43) on an Erika Nelson three-pointer. Loyola regrouped, answering with a three-point play from Jennifer Juergens that started an 8-2 run to make it a 53-51 game at the 10:48 mark. However, the Ramblers would go ice cold from there, sinking just one of their next 17 field goal attempts the rest of the way before Jessica Hylton hit a runner in the lane with 4.1 seconds remaining, as the Braves were able to put the game away.

Hanser led Loyola with a team-high 16 points while Hylton finished with career-highs of 14 points and eight rebounds to support. Kelly Krumwiede and Erika Nelson had 20 points each to lead Bradley.

The Ramblers continue their hectic road swing next Wednesday night when they battle Dayton.