Feb. 27, 2010
Box Score
CHICAGO - Maggie McCloskey poured in a game-high 23 points, Brittany Boeke and Keisha Collins picked up double-doubles and freshman Abby Skube came off the bench to score 17 second-half points as Loyola erased an eight-point deficit in a 67-64 win over UIC this afternoon at the UIC Pavilion. The Ramblers inch over the .500 mark for the year, improving to 14-13 (8-8 Horizon), while dropping the Flames to 12-15 (9-7).
"It was a great team effort today and to be able to come back to get a big road win shows a lot about this team," said head coach Eric Simpson. "Abby has worked hard in practice all season and I am so happy that she was able to take this opportunity today to show what she can do and help us pull out a win."
McCloskey got the Ramblers off to a good start, knocking down three three-pointers in the first 2:08 to give LU a 9-2 lead. UIC was able to pull within three (13-10) as Loyola's offense stagnated but Boeke added a couple of hoops to bump the lead back to eight (20-12) at the 5:56 mark. However, the Flames kept pushing and closed the half on a 19-3 run to take a 31-23 lead into the locker room at halftime. McCloskey (15) and Boeke (8) were the Loyola offense in the half, combining for all 23 Rambler points in the period.
After Collins and Taylor Foulks traded three-pointers to open the second half, the Flames bumped the lead to 12 (40-28) on a Shameia Green bucket. Loyola was still staring at a 10-point deficit when it began to chip away. McCloskey knocked down another trey to cut it seven and buried another to cap 13-1 LU that gave the Ramblers a 46-44 lead with just over 10 minutes to go. After Jasmine Bailey scored to tie it back up, Skube buried her second three-pointer to put the Ramblers back on top. The lead grew to six (56-50) on another Skube basket but UIC pulled even at 58 at the 4:31 mark to set up a tense finish.
Two Jessie Miller free throws gave the Flames a 64-62 lead at the 1:50 mark and the Ramblers still trailed by one after Collins split a pair from the foul line with 1:24 to play. Loyola's defense rose to the occasion, getting a big stop, and Boeke fed Skube for a bucket inside to give the Ramblers a 65-64 lead with 28 seconds to go. Foulks missed a three on the ensuing UIC possession and McCloskey knocked down two free throws to make it a three-point game. Miller could not find the range on a three-ball and the Ramblers held on for the win.
McCloskey finished with seven treys en route to her game-high 23 points. Boeke put together one of her best games of the year, finishing with 15 points and tied her career high with 12 boards while Collins finished with 12 points (all in the second half) and 11 assists for her second double-double of the year.
In spite of those three efforts, it was Skube who emerged as the difference-maker. After scoring just four points all season, the freshman scored all of her 17 points in the second half, finishing 7-of-9 from the floor and 2-of-3 from the arc.
With the win, the Ramblers ensure that they will be no worse than the six seed in the upcoming Horizon League Championship. However, they can still move up as they close out the regular season with two home games next week, starting with a Thursday night tilt with Valparaiso.
