March 13, 2014
Box Score
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Becca Smith poured in a game-high 19 points to lead four Ramblers in double figures as Loyola picked up a 75-69 victory over Bradley this afternoon at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo. in the opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The Ramblers improve to 11-20 overall, while the Braves close the season at 8-22.
Both teams started out slow in the game's opening minutes. A three by Smith knotted the game up (5-5) at the 16:50 mark and sparked a 10-0 Rambler run that saw Loyola open up a 12-5 advantage with just under seven minutes elapsed. The Braves answered back with a run of their own, scoring a quick six points to regain the lead (14-12) with eight minutes gone.
The game remained close in the middle stages of the first half before Loyola erupted for nine straight points in under two minutes to open up the first double-digit lead (35-25) of the day for either team. Bradley chipped it down to five before a bucket from Cate Soane sent the Ramblers into the locker room up seven (37-30). Smith finished with a team-high 10 points in the opening stanza. Loyola took advantage of its size, outscoring the Braves by a margin of 22-12 inside the painted area.
Loyola held Bradley at bay for the opening ten minutes of the second half, maintaining a lead of between five and nine points during that timeframe. A Kelly Frings bucket followed by a pair of Kelsey Budd free throws saw the Braves close to within two (54-52) with 9:18 remaining. Smith responded, scoring Loyola's next four to stretch its lead back out to six (58-52) at the 8:01 mark.
Bradley refused to go away, getting the lead back down to two on a pair of different occasions down the home stretch. The second of those two came after Kelsey Budd split a pair of free throws (65-63). On the following possession for the Ramblers, Bailey Farley drained her second three-point shot of the game to open the lead back up to five (68-63) with under a minute remaining, giving the Ramblers some much needed breathing room. Loyola was able to salt the game away at the free throw, guaranteeing itself a spot in Friday's quarterfinals.
Farley, Molly Crosby and Troy Hambric, all of who finished with 12 points, joined Smith in double figures. Crosby picked up the second double-double of her career, grabbing ten rebounds as well. Kelsey Budd and Michelle Young each scored 15 points to lead the way for Bradley.
Loyola will return to action tomorrow afternoon when it clashes with top-seeded Indiana State. Tip-off is set for 12:05 p.m. from the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo.
