Photo Galleries: Game Action  |  WISD
Highlights: YouTube

BALTIMORE – The defending Patriot League women's basketball champions are undefeated no more in conference play, as all five Loyola University Maryland starters scored in double figures during a 60-50 upset win over Bucknell on Women in Sports Day at Reitz Arena.

Alexis Gray supplied a team-high 16 points, hitting 7 of 8 free throw attempts in the closing minutes, while Stephanie Karcz recorded her 27th career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Greyhounds (5-14, 2-6 Patriot League).

Cheered on by a boisterous WISD crowd, Loyola never trailed against a Bucknell squad which had won its first seven conference games by an average margin of 18.9 points per game. The Bison (14-5, 7-1) lost for just the second time in their last 14 games overall.

Hannah Niles and Laryn Edwards totaled 11 points apiece, while Delaney Connolly chipped in 10 to round out the Loyola scoring.

Playing at a deliberate offensive pace throughout the contest, Loyola appeared to take Bucknell out of its rhythm early on. The Greyhounds held a 21-10 advantage at the end of the first quarter, hitting a trio of 3-pointers while forcing five Bison turnovers on the other end.

The teams combined for 15 points in the second, but Loyola maintained a 27-19 edge heading into the intermission. The margin was down to 41-36 after three quarters, as Bucknell tried to chip away at its deficit.

A Karcz layup and Gray's third 3-pointer of the contest upped the lead back up to 10 points to begin the fourth. The Bison followed with a 7-0 run to get within three at 46-43, but a clutch 3-pointer from Niles with 3:17 remaining gave the home side a two-possession advantage that it would keep for the rest of regulation.

Led by Gray and Edwards (6-6 FT), the Greyhounds shot 15 of 16 (93.8%) from the charity stripe to keep the visitors at bay in the closing minutes. Gray set new season highs in both points (16) and 3-pointers made (3). She is up to 140 career made 3's, putting her within four of tying Katie Sheahin (2009-13) for third place all-time at Loyola.

The Greyhounds snapped a six-game home losing streak to the Bison, earning its first win over Bucknell at Reitz since Dec. 1, 2010. Loyola also improved to an even 4-4 at home this season.

Karcz, the Division I leader in steals per game, was limited to three thefts on Saturday, but that was still enough to move her into a tie for No. 16 in Division I history with 425 career thefts. The double-double was her eighth in 19 games this season.

Ellie Mack led Bucknell with 22 points and eight rebounds. All 110 points in the game were scored by the team's starters.

The Greyhounds remain at Reitz Arena on Wednesday evening, hosting Boston University in a Patriot League matchup at 6 p.m.