Jan. 21, 2012

Box Score

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CHICAGO - Simone Law poured in a game-high 24 points but Loyola went without a field goal for the final 9:17 and Butler rallied from a 16-point deficit to escape with a 60-57 win tonight at Gentile Arena. Loyola (9-10, 4-4 Horizon) sees its three-game winning streak snapped while Butler improves to 6-12 (3-4) with the win.

Loyola got off to a slow start over the first five minutes before coming alive. Abby Skube and Monica Albano combined for 17 points in a 24-5 run that gave the Ramblers a 29-12 cushion with 3:56 to go in the half. Butler whittled the deficit back to 11 before two Lauren Hibbard free throws gave Loyola a 31-18 lead at intermission. The Rambler defense was the story, holding Butler to just 22% (6 of 27) from the floor in the period while the home team knocked down five three-pointers to offset 12 first-half turnovers.

Much like Thursday night, the visiting team came out hot in the second half and Butler pulled within five on a Devin Brierly three-pointer. Six points from Law highlighted Loyola's 10-0 answer that made it 45-30 and a Skube three-pointer made it a 50-34 game with 11:24 to go. The Bulldogs closed to within nine before another Law basket made it 53-42 with 9:17 to go, a bucket that proved to be LU's final field goal of the game. Three Law free throws kept Loyola ahead (56-52) but Butler finally pulled even on a Hannah Douglas basket with 2:20 to play. Douglas scored again to give BU its first lead since 9-8 before split two free throws to make it a one-point game (58-57). Loyola forced two misses on the ensuing possession but was unable to corral a rebound and Brierly hit a pair from the stripe to make it a three-point game with 12 ticks on the clock. After two timeouts, Albano's three-pointer at the buzzer was no good.

Law was terrific, finishing with 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting (8-11 FTs) to lead all scorers. Albano and Skube added 11 points apiece.

Loyola takes the week off before facing UIC for Jam the Joe next Saturday against UIC. Tip time is scheduled for 2 p.m., students get in free and all other tickets are just $1.