Feb. 9, 2008

Indianapolis, Ind. - Freshman Brittany Boeke led four players in double figures with a career-high 18 points but it was Loyola's defense down the stretch that was the story as the Ramblers held off Butler for a 67-64 win this afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Loyola improves to 5-17 (3-8 Horizon) with the win while Butler slumps to 15-7 (5-6).

"It was great to see our kids turn the corner and win one of these close games," said head coach Shannon Reidy. "We battled hard and played very well to build a couple of big leads but this is a good Butler team and we knew they would battle back but I was proud of how we persevered and finished."

Loyola opened the game hot and five straight points from Jessica Hylton gave the visitors a 10-6 lead after six minutes. A couple of Shannon Finnegan baskets helped the Ramblers open an eight-point lead and Boeke added a hoop and a free throw to extend the margin to 11 (27-16) at the 6:11 mark. The Ramblers were able to maintain the double-figure advantage and took their largest lead of the period, 34-20, on a Boeke three-point play with just over a minute left but the Bulldogs scored the last four to make it a 34-24 game at intermission. Loyola knocked down 12-of-21 field goals (57.1%) in the period and received 10 points each from Boeke and Hylton.

Butler scored on its first five possessions of the second half to stay within shouting distance but Loyola was able to weather the storm and Boeke capped a 6-0 run with a lay-up to restore the double-digit lead with just under 16 minutes to play. The lead reached 13 points on several occasions, the last on a pair of Boeke charity tosses with 9:43 left, before Butler made a charge. Boeke drilled a baseline jumper with 8:21 remaining to keep the lead at 10 (62-52) before the LU offense went stagnant. The Bulldogs managed to come all the way back, taking a 63-62 lead on an Azjah Bass three-pointer with 2:07 to play. A pair of key free throws from Hylton gave the Ramblers the lead back with 1:04 on the clock and Taryn Randle came up with a crucial block and rebound on the ensuing trip to keep the lead. Randle missed both free throws but Finnegan came up with the offensive rebound and, after dribbling off seven seconds, Keisha Collins was fouled and knocked down a pair from the stripe to make it a 67-64 game with 5.4 seconds to play. Butler was unable to get a clean look and the Ramblers secured their first road win of the season.

Boeke's 18 points bettered her previous high of 15 and she was joined in double figures by Hylton (career-high 15 points and six rebounds), Collins (13) and Finnegan (season-high 12).

Loyola returns to action next Saturday with a home game against UIC.