Nov. 20, 2011
Box Score
CHICAGO - Loyola rallied from a 12-point first half deficit to get back in the game but the Ramblers struggled to find the range down the stretch as Eastern Michigan was able to grind out a 63-55 win this afternoon at North Park Gymnasium. The Ramblers (3-1) suffer their first setback of the season while the Eagles move to 3-1 with the win.
"I am extremely proud of how determined we were and how hard we battled today," said head coach Eric Simpson. "We certainly did not play our best today and credit Eastern Michigan for being physical and making us work. We struggled to corral rebounds and second chance points were the big difference in the game."
The first half was played at a helter skelter pace but both teams had moments of sloppy play. Loyola struggled to convert around the basket and Eastern Michigan took advantage, opening a 21-9 lead on an India Hairston basket midway through the half. Consecutive three-pointers from Monica Albano and Abby Skube cut the deficit in half but EMU opened a 27-17 lead on a Tavelyn James bucket at the 7:37 mark. Loyola dug in defensively and ripped off eight quick points, capped by a traditional three-point play and a three-point field goal from Patrice King. Skube later fed Simone Law for a basket to pull Loyola within one, 31-30, with over a minute left and EMU would take that slight advantage into the locker room.
A King lay-in to open the second half gave the Ramblers their first lead of the afternoon but Eastern Michigan was slowly able to regain control, extending out to a 40-34 lead on a Paige Redditt basket. Two King free throws and four points from Albano pulled LU even at 40 with 13 minutes to go and a four-point play from Katie Kortekamp later gave the Ramblers a 51-49 lead with 7:54 on the clock. Both teams we digging in defensively and points were hard to come by the rest of the way. Two Albano free throws put Loyola back on top (53-51) with under five minutes to play but EMU held a 57-55 lead to set up a frantic final 90 seconds.
Albano missed a three-pointer with 1:20 to go and the Eagles missed a pair from the line with 51 seconds left to give LU another change. A turnover squandered that opportunity and Loyola was forced to foul with 24 seconds left. Eastern Michigan missed the front-end of the one-and-one but, as was the story of the day, it was able to secure the offensive rebound. James knocked down two free throws to make it a four-point game with 19 seconds left and four EMU points in the final four seconds accounted for the final score.
King was terrific, posting a career-high 24 points (8-14 FGs, 6-7 FTs) to lead the way. Albano was solid as well, pitching in with 16 points and six boards.
Loyola enjoys a small break before heading to Seattle for Thanksgiving. The Ramblers will play in a two-day tournament hosted by the University of Seattle, opening play on Friday night against Akron.
