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Abby Skube's career-high 26 points were not enough in Loyola's 72-68 loss at Valpo

Women's Basketball

Late Flurry Stuns Loyola In 72-68 Loss at Valparaiso

Feb. 17, 2011

Box Score

Valparaiso, Ind. - Host Valparaiso stunned Loyola with a game-ending 20-3 run to escape with a 72-68 win over the Ramblers tonight at the ARC in Valparaiso, Ind. The loss spoiled a terrific performance from Northwest Indiana native Abby Skube, who scored a career-best 26 points to lead the Ramblers (11-13, 5-8 Horizon). Valpo improves to 7-19 (4-10).

"It is a sinking feeling to dictate the first 35 minutes of the game only to give it all back over the last five," said head coach Eric Simpson. "We just did not do the things we needed to do to close out this game at either end of the floor."

A Monica Albano layup gave the Ramblers a 17-12 lead before Valpo scored the next four to get within a point. Albano answered with a three-point play and knocked down a three-point basket later to help Loyola open up a 25-18 with just over nine minutes to play. Valpo took advantage of a Loyola drought to eventually draw even at 29 but the Ramblers ripped off 10 of the final 12 points of the half, eight from Skube, to take a 39-31 lead at intermission. Skube was terrific in the period, knocking down 7-of-8 from the floor, including three three-pointers, en route to 17 points in the half.

A steal and basket early in the second half moved the home team back within a deuce (45-43) but Skube knocked down another three to jumpstart an 18-6 LU run that gave the Ramblers their largest lead of the night (63-49) with 8:45 to play. A driving layup from Albano kept the lead at 13 with 6:16 left before Valpo started to claw back. A three-pointer cut the lead to 10 and an Ashley Timmerman trey made it a five-point game with under four minutes. A key three-point play from Brittany Boeke bumped the lead back to eight with 2:53 to go but Valpo scored on a put-back to cut it to six. After a 30-second shot clock violation, Betsy Adams buried a three to make it a three-point game and she knocked down another with just over a minute left to tie the game at 68. Albano had a good look spin out and Valpo converted off a scramble situation to take the lead with 15 seconds left. A Loyola turnover led to two free throws that put the finishing touch on the comeback.

Skube finished with 26 points and added nine rebounds to pace the Ramblers. Albano added 19 points and Lisa Samplawski added 10 off the bench.

Loyola wraps up its Indiana swing on Saturday afternoon against Butler.

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