Dec. 7, 2013

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

CHICAGO, Ill. - DePaul shot just over 52% from the field tonight as it raced by Loyola, 93-55, at McGrath-Phillips Arena. Troy Hambric (12) and Becca Smith (11) each reached double-figures tonight for the Ramblers.

The Blue Demons opened the game on a 13-2 run, quickly setting the tone for the rest of the evening. Loyola's lone basket in that stretch came on a layup by Smith that tied the game at 2-2 before Brittany Hrynko's bucket ignited the DePaul attack. The Ramblers chipped the deficit back down to six (14-8) after a jumper by Bailey Farley and a two free throws from Hambric. A pair of turnovers by the Ramblers helped DePaul reestablish a double-digit lead as the Blue Demons rolled into the locker room up, 45-23. Loyola committed 16 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes as the Blue Demons scored 28 points off of them.

Lyndsey Booker, appearing in only her second game this season due to injury, buried a three-point shot to open the second half and cut the Blue Demon lead back down under 20 (45-26). The home side continued to operate at an efficient rate, shooting 60% in the second half. The Ramblers would go on a 12-0 run, highlighted by baskets from Hambric, Smith and Ayrealle Beavers, in the middle stages of the second half, but they were unable to claw back as DePaul improved to 4-2 and remained unbeaten on its home floor.

For the second consecutive game, Loyola struggled with a pressure defense, committing 23 turnovers. The Ramblers shot under 38% from the field, hitting on just 2-of-12 (16.7%) three-point attempts.

Hambric finished 4-of-12 from the floor but hit on 4-of-5 from the free throw line to score in double-figures for the eighth-straight game. Farley led all scorers off the Loyola bench this evening with nine points.

The Ramblers will return to action next Saturday afternoon (Dec.14) when they host the Northwestern Wildcats at 2 p.m.