Jan. 10, 2014
Postgame Comments | Box Score
CHICAGO - Troy Hambric (21 points) and Bailey Farley (13 points) each scored in double-figures as Wichita State defeated Loyola this evening, 71-58, at Gentile Arena in Chicago. The Shockers improve to 11-2 overall (2-0 Missouri Valley), while the Ramblers fall to 5-10 (1-2 Missouri Valley).
Becca Smith gave Loyola an early 2-0 advantage when she opened the scoring on the evening before Wichita State scored 17 of the next 19 points to race out to a 17-4 lead at the 11:13 mark of the first half. The Shockers used a suffocating pressure defense to force nine Rambler turnovers during that stretch. A layup by Cate Soane started a rally that would see Loyola cut the lead down to five (19-14) after a bucket from Farley with 9:14 remaining in the half.
The deficit hung between five and eight points before a steal and layup by Jamillah Bonner put the visitors back up by double-digits (31-21) with 3:01 to play in the half. Bonner, who finished with a team-high 20 points on the night, would come up big again when she buried a long three in the final minute of the first half to send Wichita State to the halftime locker room with a 36-25 lead. The Shockers forced Loyola into 13 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes and cashed in for 13 points off of them.
Loyola struggled to find its rhythm coming out of the break and saw Wichita State push the lead to 19 (48-29) with just over four minutes gone. A score from Hambric in the paint started a stretch that saw the Ramblers slowly chip away at the deficit, cutting it down to seven on two separate occasions during the middle stages of the second half. The Shockers' press and up tempo style of play proved to be too much though, as they were able to keep the Ramblers at bay and claim their tenth consecutive victory.
Hambric was fantastic for Loyola, finishing in double-figures for the 13th time in last 14 games while also grabbing five rebounds and snagging four steals. Farley nailed a team-leading three three-point shots en route to her best offensive output in the last five games. Molly Crosby, coming off the bench for only the second time this season, was active at both ends of the floor, scoring eight points and posting career-highs in rebounds (10) and assists (4) while also tying a career-high with five blocks.
Loyola will return to action on Sunday afternoon (Jan. 12) when it hosts the Missouri State Bears. Tip off is slated for 2 p.m. from inside Gentile Arena.
