Box Score

In Short…
Abby O'Connor scored 16 points and ripped down a career-best 15 rebounds, pacing a trio of Ramblers in double figures, but Bradley (20-7, 10-6 MVC) closed regulation with a 15-5 run to fend off Loyola University Chicago, 71-59, this afternoon at Renaissance Coliseum in Peoria, Ill.  The Ramblers now sit at 12-16 overall (6-11 MVC) heading into the final week of the regular season.
 
How It Happened
Maya Dunson helped Loyola overcome a slow start, knocking down back-to-back attempts from beyond the three-point arc to knot the score up at 6-6 four minutes in.  Kailyn Strawbridge weaved her way through traffic shortly after to give the Ramblers their first lead of the day, 8-7.  Following an O'Connor jumper that staked Loyola to a slim 16-15 edge, Lasha Petree drained a three of her own to send Bradley back in front, 18-16, after one quarter of play.
 
Loyola continued to hang around throughout the second quarter, seemingly having an answer for every Bradley push.  Threes on consecutive trips by Petree and Ellie Spelhaug, respectively, gave the Braves their largest lead of the half, 34-26.  O'Connor would counter with a jumper to trim the margin to six, 34-28, at halftime.
 
A fastbreak score by Chelsea Brackmann pushed the Bradley lead into double digits, 38-28, 90 seconds into the second half.  Brackmann's bucket would be the hosts' last for nearly four minutes, as six straight points from Ellie Rice saw the Ramblers climb within four, 38-34.  Rice finished off a fastbreak layup of her own that was followed by two O'Connor free throws, pulling Loyola level at 43-43.  Bradley finished the frame with a 5-0 spurt, retaking a five-point advantage, 48-43, entering the fourth quarter.
 
Bradley would stretch its lead to seven, 52-45, on a Nyjah White finish in the paint with 7:44 remaining in regulation.  Loyola again began to chip away, clawing back to down only two, 56-54, following O'Connor's first make of the day from distance at the 5:37 mark.   Petree would provide a late spark, bookending another O'Connor trey with triples of her own as Bradley opened up a 64-57 lead with 2:12 to play.  The Braves went on to ice the game from the charity stripe as time ran out on Loyola's comeback.
 
Inside The Box Score
- O'Connor posted her team-high fifth double-double of the season, turning in the aforementioned stat line in addition to two blocks, an assist and a steal.  The South Bend, Ind. native now has 42 blocked shots on the season, one shy of fifth place on the program's single-season record board.
- Rice added 12 points, all of which came in the second half, while Dunson chipped in a season-best 11 points, knocking down three attempts from distance.
- Strawbridge came off the bench to record season-high marks in both points (7) and assists (4).
- For just the second time this season, Loyola fell in a game in which it outrebounded its opponent. The Ramblers finished with a narrow 40-38 edge in the category.  
- Petree led Bradley with 19 points.
 
Up Next
Loyola closes out the 2018-19 regular season on Saturday, March 9 at Valparaiso.  Tip-off from the Athletics-Recreation Center is set for 1 p.m.