Jan. 8, 2011
Box Score
CHICAGO - Monica Albano scored 14 of her team-high 17 points in the first half as Loyola built a 16-point halftime lead and held off UIC, 69-58, this afternoon at the Gentile Center. Loyola moves to 8-6 (2-1 Horizon) on the season while dealing the Flames (7-7, 2-1) their first Horizon League loss of the season.
"I was very pleased with how we started the game today after a slow start last Sunday," said head coach Eric Simpson. "We executed very well on both ends of the floor and were able to build a nice lead but, for whatever reason, we kind of lost our flow for a bit there in the second half. Fortunately, we were able to focus defensively and get a couple of key stops and knocked down some free throws at the end."
Loyola got off to a fast start, pounding the ball inside early with positive results. An Ellen Ayoub basket capped a game-opening 11-2 LU spurt but UIC would find its feet and closed to within five (16-11) on a Briana Hinkle basket. Two straight Lindsey Sebetic buckets helped the Ramblers bump the lead back to double figures and a Lisa Samplawski jumper later helped Loyola open up a 27-13 lead at the 6:31 mark. After the Flames got back within nine, Loyola closed the half strong, ripping off nine of the last 11 points to take a commanding 39-23 lead into the locker room at halftime. Albano led the way with 14 points while the Ramblers shot a solid 48% in the period while holding UIC to just 33% (9-of-27) in the half.
UIC came to life at the start of the second half, riding the hot hand of Shameia Green. Green hit four straight shots as the visitors scored nine of the first 11 points of the half to get within nine (41-32) at the 17:41 mark. Loyola hung tough and Abby Skube followed a Lisa Samplawski three-pointer with a basket of her own to boost LU back to a 13-point lead (54-41) midway through the half. The Flames had another run in them and a Taylor Foulks basket capped an 11-3 UIC run that cut the Ramblers' lead to just five, 57-52, with 5:23 to go. Ayoub scored at the end of the shot clock to stem the tide and the Ramblers had an answer every time down the stretch, hitting 6-of-8 from the line in the final minute to close out the win.
Albano finished with a team-high 17 points and added five assists to lead four Ramblers in double figures. Samplawski (11 points) and Skube (10) gave Loyola significant contributions off the bench while Brittany Boeke also had a solid day, finishing with 10 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Loyola returns to action this Wednesday (Jan. 12) when it travels north to take on No. 20 Green Bay. Tip time at the Kress Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.
