Box Score | Postgame Comments

CHICAGO - A returning Simone Law led a group of three Ramblers to score in double figures as Loyola picked up its second victory of the weekend, downing Indiana State by a final count of 61-50 this afternoon inside Gentile Arena. With the win, the Ramblers climb to 4-18 overall (2-9 Missouri Valley), while the Sycamores drop to 15-7 (5-6 Missouri Valley).

Offense was tough to come by for both teams in the game's opening stages. Chelsea Small split a pair of free throws to give Indiana State the game's first point (1-0) with just over two minutes gone before Law responded with back-to-back buckets to put Loyola on top by three (4-1) at the first media timeout (15:38). Things remained tight as the half wore on with both sides struggling to create separation. Taylor Johnson knocked down a triple from the top of the three-point arc to ignite a 9-0 Loyola run, which included a pair of acrobatic finishes going to the basket by Sam Lambrigtsen, that gave the Maroon & Gold a nine-point edge (17-8) and forced an Indiana State timeout with 5:52 to play in the half.

Small knocked down three-pointers on consecutive trips following the timeout to quickly slice the margin back down to three (17-14) with 4:52 remaining. Law answered back with another score, followed by four-straight points from Taylor Manuel to bump the lead back up to nine (23-16) with under a minute to play. After Jasmine Grier knocked down a contested jumper on Indiana State's final possession of the first half, Lambrigtsen drained her first three of the afternoon to send Loyola into the locker room with a 26-16 edge.

Law finished with a team-high 10 points in the opening stanza. Manuel was a force in the painted area, chipping in six points to go along with eight rebounds and five blocked shots. The Rambler defense held the visitors from Terre Haute, Ind. to only 21% shooting (6-of-28) in the first half, marking the second time in as many games that Loyola has allowed less than ten first-half field goals by an opponent. Small led Indiana State with seven points in the half.

Loyola kept its foot on the gas as the second half got underway, bumping the lead up to 14 (35-21) on a mid-range jumper from Johnson at the 14:32 mark. Indiana State continued to battle, using a quick 4-0 spurt to climb back to within nine (41-32) with 11:41 to play in regulation. The Ramblers hit right back with the game's next seven points, the last three of which came from another Lambrigtsen three-pointer, to open up a 48-32 lead with just less than nine minutes to play. Destiny Washington sunk a pair from the charity stripe with 6:11 remaining as the Loyola lead reached the 20-point plateau (56-36) for the first of two times on the afternoon. The Sycamores chipped away at their deficit over the final two and a half minutes but it proved to be too late as the Ramblers claimed their second victory in as many games.

Law finished with a game and season-high 17 points to pace the Loyola attack. The senior out of South Holland, Ill. fell just two rebounds shy of a double-double, grabbing eight caroms. Law was joined in double figures in scoring by Lambrigtsen (15), who also dished out a career-best four assists, and Johnson (12). Manuel posted an impressive stat line that included seven points, eight rebounds and a career-high six blocks, one off Loyola's single-game record in the category. Small (14) was the only Sycamore to score in double figures as the Ramblers turned in one of their best defensive performances of the season, holding Indiana State to only a 26% clip (14-of-53) from the field.

Loyola will now turn its attention to a season-long three-game road trip. That stretch begins on Friday night when the Ramblers visit Koch Arena for a clash with the Wichita State Shockers. Tip-off from Wichita, Kan. is scheduled for 7 p.m.