Feb. 2, 2008

Box Score

CHICAGO - Sophomore Elyse VanBogaert scored a team-high 17 points but Wright State scored the final seven points of the game to escape with a 56-49 win over the Ramblers this afternoon at the Gentile Center. Loyola drops to 4-16 (2-7 Horizon) with the loss while the Raiders improve to 8-12 (5-4) with the win.

After a sloppy first half in which the teams combined for 32 points and 24 turnovers, both squads picked up their play in the second 20 minutes. VanBogaert scored on LU's first two possessions of the half as Loyola cut an 18-14 halftime deficit in half and another VanBogaert hoop minutes later cut the margin to one less than two minutes into the half. Wright State was able to build the lead back to seven and bumped it up to eight (33-25) on a Sierra Crayton bucket. Loyola battled back immediately, as a Brittany Boeke hoop and a three-point play from Shannon Finnegan made it a three-point game. A steal and lay-up by Keisha Collins made it a 33-32 game with 8:13 to play and it seemed as if the Ramblers had built some momentum. However, the Raiders, built the advantage back up to seven but the Ramblers had another run in them. Trailing 44-37 with 4:46 showing on the clock, Loyola made its move. Two Boeke free throws made it a five-point game and a McCloskey steal led to another Collins lay-up that cut the deficit to three. After Wright State boosted the lead back to six, Loyola finally was able to pull even on a McCloskey three-pointer that tied the game at 49 with 1:01 to go.

However, WSU's Shey Peddy got in the lane for a three-point play to give the Raiders the lead back and she knocked down two free throws moments later after a LU turnover to make it a 54-49 lead with 25 seconds to play. LaShawna Thomas hit a pair of free throws later to account for the final margin.

VanBogaert hit 7-of-10 from the floor en route to her 17 points and Collins (10 points) joined her in double figures. Peddy led Wright State with 18 points.

Loyola returns to the road next week with a swing through Indiana. The Ramblers open on Thursday night at Valparaiso.