Jan. 19, 2012

Box Score

CHICAGO - Junior Abby Skube scored a season-high 24 points off the bench and Loyola outscored Valpo 46-16 over the last 16 minutes in an 86-56 win over the Crusaders this evening at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers move back to the .500 mark (9-9, 4-3 Horizon) with their third straight win while the Crusaders drop to 5-12 (1-5) with the loss.

After falling behind 10-7 after five minutes, Loyola began to find an offensive rhythm. Five points from Skube capped a 7-0 LU run that gave the Ramblers a four-point lead and a basket later from Lisa Samplawski bumped the lead to nine (22-13) exactly halfway through the half. However, Valpo hung tough and pulled within a deuce on a Gina Lange basket with just over three minutes left. However, Katie Kortekamp knocked down a three-pointer on the ensuing possession and another three from Monica Albano sent Loyola to the locker room with a 38-31 halftime lead.

Valpo scored nine of the first 11 points of the second half, the last two on an Ashley Timmerman basket, to prompt an early LU timeout. The Ramblers were a different team the rest of the way, rattling off eight straight to take a 48-40 lead and Loyola blew it open later, connecting on four straight three-pointers to kickstart a 23-3 run that sealed the game.

Loyola blazed the nets at a 54% clip for the game and knocked down 9-of-18 from the arc while holding Valpo to just 36% shooting, 28% in the second half.

Skube was terrific, hitting 9-of-12 overall (4-6 3FGs) for her season-high point total, which is just two shy of her career high set last year at Valpo. Simone Law added 16 points and six boards in support.

Loyola searches for its fourth consecutive win on Saturday when it takes on Butler. Tip off from Gentile Arena is set for 4 p.m.