GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Bradley 60, Loyola 53
Records: Bradley (5-9, 1-2 MVC); Loyola (2-13. 1-3 MVC)
Location: Gentile Arena -- Chicago, Ill.
Stats: Box Score  | Season Stats 

In Short…
Visiting Bradley used a third-quarter surge to take control as it handed the Loyola University Chicago women’s basketball team a 60-53 defeat this afternoon inside Gentile Arena. The Braves improve to 5-9 overall (1-2 MVC) with the win, while the Ramblers fall to 2-13 (1-3 MVC).

How It Happened
Offense was at a premium in the opening minutes of the first quarter. Tiara Wallace finished under the basket to put Loyola on the board at the 7:13 mark as she trimmed the Bradley lead to 3-2. Katie Salmon gave the Ramblers their first advantage of the afternoon, 6-5, four minutes later. Following a pair of makes at the free throw line by Citiana Negatu, Anneke Schlueter knocked down a triple to give the Braves a 15-12 lead heading into the second quarter.

Consecutive scores by Wallace and Kiana Coomber sent Loyola back in front, 16-15, with 8:35 to go and prompted a Bradley timeout. Ryan Wilkins connected on a mid-range jumper to pull the Braves even at 24-24 before a Kaitlyn Williams triple sparked a 5-0 spurt for the Maroon & Gold that saw it open up a 29-24 edge with 1:51 remaining. Another Williams trey pushed the margin to six, 32-26. A steal and score by Schlueter with time winding down cut the Rambler lead to 32-30 at halftime.

Both teams struggled on the offensive end coming out of the intermission. Alona Johnson drained a three to put Bradley on top, 35-32, at the 7:35 mark of the third quarter. A layup by Lee Williams with 2:54 to go cut the Braves’ lead to two, 36-34, and snapped a scoreless drought of 4:21 for both teams. Bradley finished the quarter with a flurry as back-to-back buckets from Leti Lerma and Schlueter pushed the visitors’ lead to 40-35 at the end of three quarters of play.

The Braves scored the first five points of the fourth quarter, upping their lead to 45-35 on another Lerma post score. Salmon drained a triple from the top of the key to pull Loyola back to within seven, 49-42, with 2:34 remaining in regulation. Loyola looked to extend the game by fouling as time ticked away but was unable to get any closer as Bradley iced the game from the charity stripe.

Inside The Box Score
- Loyola was led on the afternoon by Salmon, Wallace and Williams. All three members of the trio finished with nine points. Williams also dished out a team-high four assists.
- The Ramblers turned in one of their strongest defensive performances of the season in defeat as they held Bradley to only 34% (21-of-62) shooting from the field.
- Lerma led a group of three Braves to score in double figures with a game-high 12 points to go along with 13 rebounds.

Up Next
Loyola wraps up a season-long three-game homestand on Saturday night when it welcomes the Indiana State Sycamores to Gentile Arena. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. from Rogers Park.