Dec. 10, 2005

Box Score

CHICAGO - Senior guard Mandy Mennella recorded her second career double-double and the starting backcourt of Mennella and Marquise Hanser combined for 47 points but it was not enough as Indiana State knocked off Loyola, 93-80, this afternoon in an up-tempo affair at the Gentile Center. Indiana State improves to 6-2 on the season, 3-0 against Horizon League competition, while the Ramblers fall to 0-8 with the loss.

"It was another case of us not executing well enough," said head coach Shannon Reidy. "We did some nice things, on the offensive end especially, but we need to have all five players on the same page all the time. When we do not have that, there will be breakdowns like we saw today. We are going to keep working and getting better each day."

Indiana State's swarming defense took advantage of a slow start by the home team and the Sycamores raced out to a 10-0 lead less than four minutes into the game. Mennella got the Ramblers on the board with a three-pointer and she drilled another one on the next possession to get Loyola into the flow of the game. Hanser followed with a lay-up to cap LU's 8-0 response but a Lisa Verhoff three-pointer kept the Sycamores in front and a Kristen Weddle three-ball gave ISU a 22-12 lead with just under 12 minutes to play in the period. A Hanser three from the corner followed and Mennella hit Jenna Real for a lay-up minutes later as the Ramblers stayed within striking distance (24-17) at the midway mark of the half. However, consecutive three-pointers helped Indiana State move the lead to 13, 30-17, and Loyola was able to battle through turnovers to go to the locker room down just 11, 50-39. Both teams shot the ball at a 50% clip, as the game was played at a furious pace. The Sycamores, however, benefitted from 12 more field goal attempts and hit 7-of-16 from the arc in holding the lead. Loyola was also hot from the three-point line, drilling 5-of-8 three-pointers, four by Mennella.

Early hoops from Danielle Lonie and Real early in the second half closed the gap to just eight (53-45) before the Ramblers went cold and Indiana State responded by reeling off 15 of the next 18 points to take a 71-48 lead with 14:27 on the clock. Loyola persevered and regained its offensive rhythm, however, the Sycamores were too efficient, offensively, and eased to the win.

Mennella finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds for her double-double, and added five assists and five three-pointers. Hanser tied her career-high, pumping in a game-high 25 points to go with five rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots. Melanie Boeglin ran the Sycamores' offense to near-perfection, finishing with 22 points and 14 assists while pitching in seven steals on the defensive end.

Loyola enjoys a week break for final exams before hitting the hardwood next weekend. The Ramblers begin a stretch of three games in five days with a Sunday (Dec. 18) afternoon matinee at Valparaiso. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT.