Feb. 7, 2009

Box Score

CHICAGO - Sophomore Brittany Boeke tied her career high with 20 points, but it wasn't enough as the Loyola women's basketball team came up short Saturday evening with a 64-50 defeat at city rival UIC. The Ramblers fall to 6-14 (1-9 Horizon), while the Flames improve to 12-9 (6-4).

Loyola held the advantage for much of the first half, as the Ramblers turned nine UIC turnovers into six points, while Boeke and junior Elyse VanBogaert tallied seven points each in the opening period. Loyola led by as much as six (16-10) with just over 10 minutes remaining in the half, but an ensuing 6-0 run by the Flames over the next five minutes evened the score. VanBogaert and juniors Shannon Finnegan and Keisha Collins responded with jumpers to push the Rambler lead to seven (24-17) with 2:10 remaining in the half, but the Flames struck back with a 7-2 run to end the half within a basket, 26-24.

Boeke and VanBogaert were at it again after the break, as the duo combined for Loyola's first 12 points of the second half to keep the game close. A lay-up by Finnegan with 9:22 remaining gave the Ramblers the lead back at 42-40. A three-pointer by Boeke pulled Loyola within one (50-49) with less than five minutes to go in regulation, but that was as close as they would get. The Flames closed out the game with a 14-1 run to seal the victory.

Boeke led all scorers with 20 points, including 3-for-3 from behind the arc and five rebounds, while VanBogaert added 14 points and five rebounds. Junior Maggie McCloskey was held scoreless, ending her NCAA record-setting streak at 69 consecutive games with a three-pointer. The Ramblers shot just 21 percent (3-for-14) from long range and 35 percent (20-for-58) from the field.

Loyola returns home next Thursday (Feb. 12) when it hosts Valparaiso at 7 p.m. at the Gentile Center.