Box Score (PDF)
In Short…
Host Milwaukee used a stifling defensive effort to defeat Loyola University Chicago by a final score of 63-41 this evening at the Klotsche Center in Milwaukee, Wis. The Panthers move to 2-2 on the year with the win, while the Ramblers fall to 0-4.
How It Happened
Kailyn Strawbridge put Loyola on the board with just over two and a half minutes gone as she drove inside to snap a game-opening 6-0 spurt for the Panthers. An old-fashioned three-point play from
Alexis Meyer cut the Milwaukee lead to 10-7 at the 6:22 mark. Sydney Stayer's layup just after the midway point of the quarter sparked an 11-2 Panther run that saw Milwaukee stretch its lead to 21-9.
Ellie Rice connected on the Ramblers' first shot from beyond the three-point arc 90 second into the second frame to trim the margin to 23-12. A split at the free throw line by
Brandi Segars pulled Loyola back to within 25-15 but Loyola would get no closer as the Panthers rolled into the locker room with a 33-18 edge.
Milwaukee kept its foot on the gas coming out of the intermission, pushing its lead to 40-18 on a Steph Kostowicz bucket. Loyola cut its deficit to 20 on a trio of different occasions in the third quarter. Alyssa Fischer drained a three with time running down to send the hosts into the fourth quarter with a 49-24 lead.
Jessica Cerda quickly made her presence felt as she knocked down back-to-back threes to cut the deficit to 51-30 with 6:08 to play. Cerda would connect on two more triples before all was said and done as Milwaukee picked up a victory in its home opener.
Inside The Box Score
- Cerda hit on four of her eight tries from distance, all of which came in the fourth quarter, to finish with a team-high 12 points.
- Strawbridge added nine points of her own, while Rice collected five rebounds
- As noted earlier, Milwaukee turned in an impressive showing on the defensive end as it held Loyola to just over 25% shooting from the field (14-of-53) and forced 20 Rambler turnovers.
- Kostowicz paced the Panther attack with a game-high 19 points.
Up Next
Loyola will be idle before it returns to Milwaukee, Wis. next Tuesday (Nov. 28) to take on No. 20/19 Marquette in an 11:30 a.m. tip-off.
