Box Score

In Short…
Host Bowling Green shot nearly 54 percent (30-of-56) as it dealt Loyola University Chicago an 88-74 defeat this afternoon at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio.  Today's victory sees the Falcons move to 3-1, while the Ramblers slip to 2-2.
 
How It Happened
Both teams were forced to shake off some early struggles on the offensive end in the first quarter.  Bowling Green battled its way out to a 9-2 lead before Ellie Rice's first three of the day pulled the Ramblers back within four, 9-5, just past the midway point of the opening frame.  Andrea Cecil closed the quarter on a high note for the hosts, finishing off a second-chance opportunity as time expired to stretch the Falcons' lead to 13-7.
 
Bowling Green would extend its lead back out to seven on a pair of different occasions in the opening minutes of the second quarter, but Loyola refused to let the Falcons get away.  An Abby O'Connor three that was followed by an Allison Day layup trimmed the deficit to 18-16 at the 5:42 mark.  Bowling Green answered back, with a Sydney Lambert three reestablishing a seven-point gap, 25-18, with just over three minutes to play in the half.  The Maroon & Gold again responded, battling back to within 29-27 at halftime after an O'Connor baseline jumper.
 
Buckets from Claire Glowniak and Morgan McMillen, respectively, upped Bowling Green's lead to 33-27 with just under 90 seconds gone in the third quarter.  Reigning MVC Newcomer of the Week Janae Gonzales dialed up a deep triple three minutes later to again make it a one-possession game, 42-40.  With the Bowling Green lead sitting at 48-44, Angela Perry and Sydney Lambert connected from distance on consecutive trips to up the margin to 54-46 after three quarters of play.
 
Back-to-back scores from McMillen extended the Bowling Green lead into double figures for the first time, 58-48, with eight minutes remaining in regulation.  Another three from Rice trimmed the gap to 58-51 before the Falcons responded with layups from Cecil and Sierra Thompson to build an 11-point advantage, 62-51, at the 5:38 mark.  Rice drained her fourth and final three of the day with two minutes left to claw Loyola back within seven, 58-51, but that would prove to be the end of the Ramblers' comeback, as Bowling Green iced the game from the free throw line.
 
Inside The Box Score
- For the third time this season, four Ramblers scored in double figures.  Leading the way for the quartet was Rice, who finished with 18 points, two off her career high.  The Austin, Texas native went 4-of-5 from beyond the three-point arc and dished out a career-high five assists.
- O'Connor added 16 points and seven rebounds, while Kat Nolan turned in the top offensive outing of her career, pouring in 14 points.  Day came off the bench to chip in 10 points.
- Tiara Wallace handed out a season-high seven assists to go along with seven points and seven rebounds.
- McMillen (25 points) and Perry (24 points) paced the Bowling Green attack.
 
Up Next
Following a break for Thanksgiving, Loyola returns to Gentile Arena on Monday evening (November 26) to host Chicago State at 7 p.m.