Jan. 20, 2005
Box Score
Baltimore, Md. - The Loyola College women's basketball team used a strong first half and three players in double figures to defeat Rider, 76-65 at Reitz Arena Thursday night. The Greyhounds were led by Jackie Valderas' career-high 21 points off the bench. Loyola improves to 6-10 with the win and 5-2 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference while the Broncs fall to 4-12 overall and 2-5 in the conference.
In the first half with the score tied at eight, Loyola went on a 13-2 run that spanned under three minutes to take a 21-10 lead at 11:53. Valderas scored the final six points of the run while Katie Scherle scored the five prior. Rider's Becky Hower ended the run with a three-pointer at 11:02 to spark a 9-2 Broncs run. Leanne Moore scored six points in that run for the 23-19 score with 8:04 on the clock.
But Loyola countered with a 17-4 run over the remainder of the first half and allowed just one Rider field goal in that time at 4:53. The Broncs final two points of the half came from two free-throws by Kara Borel for the 41-23 Loyola lead at the half. Valderas scored six points in that run as well.
In the second half, the Broncs tried to delete their deficit and slowly chipped away at Loyola's lead. With the score set at 60-44, Rider scored seven unanswered points to cut the Greyhound lead to 60-51 at 7:15. Scherle ended the drought with a basket at 6:26 but Rider continued to chip away, this time bringing the lead down to 62-55 on a three by Hower at 4:48. Valderas brought Loyola's lead back to double digits with a three point play at 3:55 before the Broncs used one last run to get in reach for a 68-62 score at 2:23. Valderas would add another three-point play in addition to three points from Krystle Harrington for the 74-62 Loyola lead with just 43 seconds remaining. Moore added a three with 33 ticks on the clock but two free-throws by Ebony Toliver would end the contest at 76-65.
Valderas led Loyola with her second consecutive career-high game of 21 points. She added nine rebounds for the near double-double. Scherle recorded her second consecutive double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Brittany Dunn added a career-high of 12 points. Harrington added nine points and six assists while Lauren Troupe tallied seven points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Rider was led by Moore's double-double of 23 points and 10 boards. Hower and Borel followed with 12 points each. All of Hower's points came from behind the arc while Borel had a near double-double with nine rebounds.
The Greyhounds shot 56.4% from the field, including 69.2% in the first half. Rider shot 38.6% from the floor despite a 46.2% from three-point range. Loyola also held a substantial advantage on the boards at 43-25.
Loyola is back in action on Saturday, January 22 as the host Niagara at 1:00. That game, originally schedule for Sunday was moved in order to accommodate funeral arrangements for the late Fr. Harold Ridley.
