Box Score (PDF)
In Short…
Missouri State held Loyola University Chicago to just 22 percent shooting from the field as it rolled to a 75-36 victory this afternoon at JQH Arena in Springfield, Mo. The Lady Bears, who have now won five straight games, improve to 11-8 overall (7-1 MVC), while the Ramblers drop to 3-15 (1-6 MVC).
How It Happened
Alexa Willard put the hosts on the board 49 seconds in as part of a game-opening 7-1 spurt for Missouri State.
Kat Nolan converted on an old-fashioned three-point play to break a scoreless drought for the Ramblers and pull Loyola to within three, 7-4, with 2:35 to play.
Ellie Rice would drain a three to knot the game up at 7-7 before
Brandi Segars converted on a driving score to put Loyola in front, 9-7, as the Ramblers held the Lady Bears without a made field goal for the final 7:16 of the first quarter.
MVC Preseason Player of the Year Liza Fruendt caught fire from distance to open up the second quarter, knocking down a pair of threes to help Missouri State surge on top, 13-9. Another Fruendt triple would stretch the margin to 20-11 before Rice connected on a long two to trim the deficit to 20-13 with 4:17 remaining. A split at the line by Segars made it 22-16 but Missouri State would score the final five points of the half as it took a 27-16 advantage into the intermission.
Loyola would chip its deficit down to nine points on a pair of different occasions in the early stages of the third quarter before the Lady Bears' offense caught fire. A layup by Danielle Gitzen would spark a 14-2 Missouri State run that pushed its lead to 53-29 following a jumper by Fruendt at the 1:12 mark of the third quarter. Missouri State would keep its foot on the gas for the remainder of the afternoon en route to picking up its seventh league victory of the season.
Inside The Box Score
- Rice and Segars scored 10 points apiece to pace the Rambler attack.
- Nolan chipped in a season-best seven points to go along with a team-high seven rebounds.
- Fruendt led the Lady Bears on the afternoon with a game-high 29 points.
Up Next
Loyola returns home next weekend to close out the first half of Valley play against Indiana State (January 26) and Evansville (January 28).
