Jan. 29, 2009

Box Score

Cleveland, Ohio - Cleveland State used an 18-5 first-half run to take control and Loyola was unable to find its way back as the Vikings dealt the Ramblers an 87-52 loss tonight at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Elyse VanBogaert led Loyola with 13 points.

Both teams started out hot on the offensive end, and baskets from VanBogaert and Lisa Samplawski, plus a three from Brittany Boeke, had the Ramblers within a hoop at 9-7 in the early going. However, Loyola turned the ball over six times and missed seven of eight shots over the next 7:42 as Cleveland State went on its run, opening a 27-12 lead at the 9:56 mark. A three-point play from VanBogaert and a three-point basket from Maggie McCloskey highlighted a 9-2 LU spurt that made it a 29-20 game but Cleveland State was able to maintain its offensive rhythm to extend to a 43-27 lead at intermission. Loyola shot 36% (9 of 25) in the opening period and committed 13 turnovers that the hosts turned into 18 points.

Four VanBogaert points early in the second half sliced the deficit to 14 but CSU's Kailey Klein responded with a three-pointer to start a 24-3 spurt that put the game away.

Loyola stayed cold in the second period, hitting 7-of-25 field goals (28%), to finish at 32% for the game while Cleveland State stayed consistent, shooting a sizzling 53% in both periods.

VanBogaert went 7-for-7 from the line to help get her 13 points. Boeke posted a season-best 12 points, including a pair from downtown, while McCloskey rounded out the trio with 10 points. Shawnita Garland led all scorers with 23 points to pace Cleveland State.

Loyola wraps up its Ohio swing on Saturday afternoon when it takes on Youngstown State at 3:30 p.m. CT.