Box Score

In Short…
Valparaiso erased a 12-point second-half deficit and shot 50 percent from the field in the fourth quarter as it dealt Loyola University Chicago a 63-53 setback this afternoon inside Gentile Arena.  Today's result sees the Crusaders climb to 11-12 (4-8 MVC), while the Ramblers fall to 5-18 (3-9 MVC).
 
How It Happened
Katie Salmon snapped a near two-minute scoreless drought to open the game for both teams when she finished inside to put Loyola on top, 2-0.  Ellie Rice knocked down a jumper from the elbow before connecting from beyond the three-point arc to give the Ramblers a 7-0 lead and force a Crusader timeout with 5:19 remaining.  A Jessica Cerda triple stretched the margin to nine, 12-3, before the visitors closed the quarter with a 6-0 spurt to pull back to within 12-9.
 
The Loyola lead would hover between one and three points throughout the early stages of the second quarter.  Nicole Konieczny pulled Valparaiso level, 16-16, for the first time since the game was scoreless with a basket at the 3:01 mark.  Cerda caught fire to end the half, knocking down three straight threes, to give the Ramblers a 25-16 lead at halftime.
 
Tiara Wallace finished off an old-fashioned three-point play two minutes into the second half as part of a stretch that saw the Maroon & Gold push their advantage to 32-20 with 6:53 remaining in the third quarter.  Threes from Dani Franklin and Grace Hales, respectively, brought the Crusaders within six, 35-29, but Loyola would respond, reestablishing an eight-point edge, 41-33, heading to the fourth quarter.
 
Meredith Hamlet rattled off the first 11 points of the final frame, nine of which came from distance, to give Valparaiso its first lead of the afternoon, 44-41, with 5:30 to play in regulation.  Rice connected on a corner triple at the 4:33 mark to knot the game up at 46-46.  Following a Wallace bucket that would again tie the score, 50-50, Hamlet drove inside for two to spark an 11-0 Crusader run that ultimately saw the visitors escape Rogers Park with a 63-53 triumph.   
 
Inside The Box Score
- Rice tied a season-high by knocking down five threes as part of a team-best 17-point performance that also included five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
- Cerda came off the bench to finish with 15 points, connecting on five triples of her own, and collected a season-best five rebounds.
- Salmon rounded out a trio of Ramblers to score in double figures with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and a block.
- Hamlet led all scorers with 19 points, all of which came during the fourth quarter. 
 
Up Next
Loyola is back home next weekend to host Missouri State (February 16) and Southern Illinois (February 18).