Feb. 2, 2012

Box Score

DETROIT - Host Detroit scored 13 of the first 15 points of the game and Loyola struggled to find the basket all night as the Ramblers dropped an 83-59 decision to the Titans tonight at Calihan Hall. The Ramblers fall to 9-12 (4-6 Horizon) with their third-straight loss while Detroit improves to 11-11 (7-3) with the win.

With a starting lineup that included three new faces due to injury, Loyola struggled defensively from the opening tip. Detroit opened the game with consecutive three-pointers and added a third later to cap the opening 13-2 run. Troy Hambric knocked down her first trey of the year to stem the tide and Abby Skube buried another three-pointer moments later to keep LU within eight, 16-8. The Ramblers could not find the range while Detroit was red hot from the arc and back-to-back threes from Chanahl Putnam gave the home team a 20-point bulge with just over eight minutes to play. Despite solid play from Hambric and Skube, Loyola could not find a flow and faced a 51-22 deficit at halftime, with UDM's total the most allowed in the opening half this season by the Ramblers.

Hambric, playing in front of her hometown fans, scored Loyola's first six points of the second half but the Ramblers would get no closer than 18 points over the final 20 minutes.

After shooting just 22% in the opening half, Loyola was more efficient in the second period, connecting at a 47% clip to finish at 34% for the game. Detroit shot 52% in the opening frame, including seven three-pointers, and placed five players in double figures.

Skube, starting for the second consecutive game in place of the injured Simone Law, finished with a game-high 19 points to lead the Ramblers. Hambric also had a solid night, finishing with 18 points and eight rebounds despite being limited to 24 minutes with foul difficulties.

Loyola wraps up its weekend road trip with a Saturday afternoon game (1 p.m. CT) at Wright State.