Jan. 14, 2007

Box Score

Indianapolis, Ind. - Marquise Hanser led a balanced Loyola attack with 17 points but the Ramblers scored just one point over the last 2:06 and could not get over the hump in a 79-73 loss to Butler this evening at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Loyola drops to 3-13 (2-4 Horizon) while the Bulldogs improve to 6-10 (3-2).

"It was a hard-fought game today with two teams battling and I am proud of how we competed," said head coach Shannon Reidy. "I thought we shot ourselves in the foot with some turnovers today and we did not execute like we needed to down the stretch."

Loyola opened the game strong, taking it to the Bulldogs and picking up where it left off on Thursday at Wright State, working the ball for open shots and knocking them down. Hoops from Hanser and Jenna Real helped the Ramblers to an early 13-8 lead and consecutive hoops from Elyse VanBogaert later in the half gave LU a six-point lead midway through the period. However, Loyola went cold, missing its next five shots and turning the ball over five times over a five-minute stretch as Butler reeled off 12 straight points to grab a 33-26 lead at the 3:40 mark. Maggie McCloskey finally ended the dry spell with a three-pointer and an Emily Ponder put-back in the dying seconds cut the deficit to just three, 41-38, at halftime.

After drilling six threes in the opening half, Butler continued to have success beyond the arc as a Cassie Freeman trey upped the host's lead to 47-40 in the early moments of the second half. Loyola battled back immediately, reeling off the next seven points - the last three on a Jessica Hylton three from the corner - to forge a tie at 47 and the teams battled back and forth the rest the of the way. Butler's Lade Akande began to assert herself on the inside, scoring 10 of 12 Butler points during one stretch, but the Ramblers were matching basket for basket, as three-point plays from both Hanser and Real helped the Ramblers keep pace. Hanser drilled a three-pointer later to draw LU within one, 66-65, but Jackie Closser answered with a three of her own to boost the Butler lead back to four. The teams traded threes on the next two possessions as well and Butler was able to hold on as the teams, which executed their offense well for the first 38 minutes, scored just one field goal apiece over the last 2:30 and Butler was able to salt the game away from the free throw line.

Hanser was joined in double figures by Real (16 points, six rebounds, career-high seven assists), Ponder (season-high 15 points) and McCloskey (11 points). Akande led Butler with 22 points.

Loyola returns to action on Tuesday night when it makes the trip to Chicago State for its final non-conference game of the season. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.