Dec. 19, 2006

Box Score

San Juan, Puerto Rico - Loyola rallied from a 13-point first-half deficit but the Ramblers could not get over the hump in the second half in a 77-70 loss to Syracuse tonight in the opening game of the San Juan Shootout in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Loyola falls to 1-8 with the loss while the Orange improve to 6-5.

"Our seniors carried us tonight," said head coach Shannon Reidy. "Marquise (Hanser) and Jenna (Real) carried the load offensively but we put them on the foul line for 33 free throws. I feel like we let a chance to beat a BIG EAST Conference team slip through our fingers tonight."

Both teams got off to hot starts, and forwards Elyse VanBogaert and Jenna Real combined for Loyola's first 11 points as the Ramblers trailed 15-11 after the opening five minutes. However, Loyola went cold over the next four minutes and the Orange were able to build a 26-13 lead after a Fantasia Goodwin three-point play at the midway point of the half. Marquise Hanser stemmed the tide with a jumper and kickstarted a 20-7 spurt over the next eight minutes that drew the Ramblers even at 33 with 2:40 left in the period. Hanser had six points in the run as Loyola was able to get out in transition for easy baskets. A pair of Nicole Michael free throws gave the Orange the lead back and they were able to score 10 of the last 13 points of the half to take a 43-36 lead into intermission. Syracuse got to the foul line at will in the opening period, knocking down 15-of-17 from the stripe, to help negate a 20-14 Rambler edge on the glass.

Hanser picked up where she left off in the first half and came out blazing in the second, scoring eight straight LU points in one stretch that saw the Ramblers get as close as two in the first six minutes of the period. The deficit fluctuated between three and five points throughout the middle part of the half as neither team was able to consistently get defensive stops. A pair of Hanser free throws made it a 71-68 game with 4:46 left before the Orange began to limit possessions by working the clock on the offensive end. The teams traded hoops and Loyola had two chances to pull even closer but a missed shot and a turnover caused each to go by the boards. Goodwin scored again inside to boost the lead back to five with just under three minutes on the clock and the teams would combine for just two points the rest of the way.

Hanser finished with a game-high 23 points for her 14th career 20-point game. Real gave the Ramblers a presence in the paint, pouring in a season-high 21 points to go with 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the year. Emily Ponder also gave Loyola solid minutes inside, finishing with eight points, seven boards and a career-best five steals.

Loyola wraps up play in the U.S. territory tomorrow night when it battles 17th-ranked DePaul at 5 p.m. CT.