GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Indiana State 62, Loyola 48
Records: Indiana State (7-10, 3-3 MVC); Loyola (8-9, 4-2 MVC)
Location: Hulman Center -- Terre Haute, Ind.
Stats: Box Score | Season Stats

In Short...
Host Indiana State held Loyola to only 22% shooting from the field in the first half and built a 13-point halftime lead en route to a 62-48 victory this evening at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute, Ind. The Sycamores move to 7-10 (3-3 Missouri Valley) with the win, while the Ramblers slip to 8-9 (4-2 Missouri Valley) on the year.

How It Happened
Neither team was able to gain separation in a first quarter that saw each team hold a three-point lead at one point. Following a Tierra Webb layup that made it 5-3 in favor of the Sycamores, an old-fashioned three-point play from Taylor Johnson and a nifty post move from Taylor Manuel put the Ramblers in front by three, 8-5, at the 4:26 mark. A layup from Johnson broke a 10-10 tie before back-to-back buckets from Cierra Ceazer and Kelsey Dirks gave Indiana State a 14-12 edge at the end of one.

Loyola reclaimed the lead for the final time on the evening with 7:49 to go when Manuel knocked down a jumper to make it 17-16. Triples from Rhagen Smith and Webb ignited a half-ending 17-3 run for the hosts that propelled the Sycamores into the locker room up by 13 (33-20).

Consecutive scores from Nieka Wheeler and a pair of makes at the charity stripe from Manuel clawed the Ramblers back to within seven, 33-26, with just over three minutes gone in the third quarter. Indiana State answered back with a 6-0 spurt of its own to quickly reestablish a 13-point lead, 39-26, with 4:30 remaining. Grace Goodhart looked to give the Maroon & Gold a lift from distance at the end of the quarter when she buried a three to cut the margin to eight, 43-35, heading to the final frame.

Johnson used a pretty move to split a pair of Sycamore defenders at the 7:20 mark before converting on a layup to keep the Ramblers within striking distance, 46-39. A 7-1 spurt form the hosts, capped off by a Joyea Marshall mid-range score with 3:56 to go, put to rest any hopes of a Rambler comeback as Indiana State coasted to the final whistle.

Inside The Box Score
- Wheeler led the Loyola attack on the offensive end for the night with 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting to go along with six rebounds and a steal. She was joined in double figures by Johnson (13 points), while Manuel ripped down a game-high 12 rebounds.
- Johnson also came away with six steals, bringing her career mark in the category to 200 as she moved into sole-possession of sixth place on Loyola's all-time record board.
- Loyola's 22% shooting mark from the field in the opening stanza was it lowest mark on the year for a single half. The Ramblers improved slightly in the second half (36%) to finish the night at 29%.
- The Ramblers struggled mightily at the free throw line all night as well, finishing just 18-of-32 (56%) at the charity stripe.
- Indiana State owned a slim 22-20 edge in points in the paint, marking only the fourth time this season that Loyola has been outscored in the category.

Up Next
Loyola will look to get back on track on Sunday afternoon when it closes out a brief two-game road trip in Normal, Ill. against the Illinois State Redbirds. Tip-off from Redbird Arena is set for 2:05 p.m.