Jan. 31, 2008

CHICAGO - The Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak when it defeated Horizon League rival Detroit 79-70 on Thursday night at the Gentile Center. With the win, the Ramblers improve to 4-15 (2-6 Horizon League) on the season, while the Titans fall to 3-16 (0-8 Horizon League).

The Ramblers trailed the Titans early on, but were able to take their first lead of the game on a shot by sophomore Shannon Finnegan putting LU up 11-8 at the 15-minute mark. The Titans refused to quit as they went on a 9-0 run to take a 17-11 advantage. A lay-up by sophomore Keisha Collins jump-started a 10-2 Rambler run that gave the Ramblers a 21-19 lead. Loyola led by as many as 10 points and went on to take a 37-29 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Loyola opened the lead to nine on a Jessica Hylton three-pointer in the early moments of the second half and an 8-1 run minutes later, highlighted by treys from Hylton and Maggie McCloskey, gave LU a commanding 51-38 lead at the 10:44 mark. Detroit managed to hang around and closed within six (58-52) but Brittany Boeke drilled a three to restore a nine-point lead. The Titans made one final push, closing within five on a pair of occasions but the Ramblers had the answer each time, including a big three from Boeke with the shot clock winding down, and hit enough free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Elyse VanBogaert led four Ramblers in double figures with 16 points and eight rebounds while Boeke, who had hit just one three-pointer this season coming in, knocked down three from downtown en route to a career high 15 points. Collins and Hylton had identical lines of 13 points, six rebounds and three assists to round out the quartet.

The Ramblers are back in action this weekend when they host Horizon League rival Wright State on Saturday at 4 p.m.