BALTIMORE – Loyola University Maryland women's basketball continues a stretch of four games out of five away from Reitz Arena with a 2 p.m. matchup at Colgate on Saturday. The Greyhounds have won four of their last seven games overall.
Last Time Out
- Stephanie Karcz broke her own single-season steals record in the third quarter, and she led three Loyola players in double figures in a 56-47 win over American on Wednesday.
- Karcz totaled 11 points, a season-high 15 rebounds, five assists and a pair of thefts for the Greyhounds, who earned their first victory over the Eagles (9-13, 5-7) since 2016.
- Delaney Connolly and Hannah Niles added 10 points apiece for the home side.
- Loyola never trailed in the second half after taking a 27-24 lead into the intermission.
- The Greyhounds finished with a 36-18 edge in the paint and forced 20 American turnovers.
- Karcz's double-double was her second in a row, her ninth overall this season and the 29th in her Loyola career.
Series History
- Colgate leads 8-5 in a series which began with Loyola's arrival in the Patriot League for the 2013-14 season.
- The Raiders have won each of the past four meetings, including a 76-74 victory in the first meeting this season on Jan. 8.
- The teams combined for 15 ties and 20 lead changes in that matchup. Colgate closed on a 6-0 run over the final 2:56.
- The Greyhounds' last win was a 70-55 home triumph on Jan. 21, 2018. Stephanie Karcz recorded the first triple-double in program history (14 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) in that victory.
Scouting Colgate
- The Raiders (16-7, 8-4) are currently tied with Boston U and Lafayette for second place in the Patriot League standings.
- Colgate is coming off its first home loss of the season, a 60-58 setback to Boston U on Wednesday, but it remains 10-1 at Cotterell Court overall in 2019-20.
- Sr. G Rachel Thompson ranks second in the conference in scoring (16.7 ppg), sixth in rebounds (8.0), tied for first in assists (4.9), first in assist to turnover ratio (+2.3), second in steals (2.6) and fourth in FG% (51.0). She led all scorers with 25 points, including the 1,000th of her career, in January's 76-74 win over Loyola.
- Colgate is in the midst of its first winning season since the 2003-04 team went 21-10 and won its lone Patriot League championship.
Karcz Continues Climb Up Loyola Leaderboard
- Stephanie Karcz is now tied for second all-time in program history with 1,027 career rebounds. Her 15 boards on Wednesday moved her past Patty Stoffey (1991-95) and into a tie with Mary Rieman (1975-79).
- Mary Beth Akre (1976-80) is Loyola's all-time leader with 1,203 boards.
- Karcz also moved into a tie with Lindsay Cobb (2000-04) for fourth in program history with 377 assists after her five helpers against American.
- She has a chance to reach both Krystle Harrington (2002-06, 415 assists) in third and Coleen Colsher (1991-95, 416 assists) in second.
Strong Effort From Niles
- Hannah Niles reached double figures for a third time this season on Wednesday, contributing 10 points while hitting 4 of 7 field goal attempts.
- The Greyhounds are 3-0 this season when Niles scores 10+ points.
- Niles and Stephanie Karcz are the only two Greyhounds to start every game this season.
Karcz Continues to Top Nation in Steals
- Stephanie Karcz has led Division I in steals per game for a majority of the season. She is currently averaging 5.4 thefts through Loyola's first 23 contests.
- Karcz's 125 steals this season are already the fourth most in Patriot League single-season history; she has recorded 100+ steals in each of the last three years.
- The NCAA's active leader in steals (436), Karcz is ranked 14th overall in DI history. Next up on the all-time list are Indiana State's Melanie Boeglin (444) and UConn's Nykesha Sales (449).
- Karcz was one of 15 players across DI selected to the Naismith Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year Midseason Team back in late January.
- Karcz is one of two players nationally with multiple triple-doubles on the year, joining Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu. She has four triple-doubles overall in her collegiate career.
- Karcz's 12 thefts against Army on Jan. 18 were the most by a DI player this season, were tied for Loyola's program record, and were the most ever in a Patriot League game.
Greyhounds Among Patriot League Leaders
- Stephanie Karcz leads the conference in steals per game (5.4), and she ranks third in rebounding (9.9/gm) and fourth in assists (4.0/gm).
- Alexis Gray leads all qualified shooters in free throw percentage (83.9, 47-56).
- Delaney Connolly is 11th in 3-point FG% (35.1, 26-74) and she is 14th in 3's made per game (1.2).
Quick Notes
- Laryn Edwards is shooting 96.8% (30 for 31) from the free throw line during Patriot League play.
- The Greyhounds are a perfect 7-0 when out-shooting their opponent this season, and they are 6-1 when leading at halftime.
- Loyola has held opponents to 30.0% shooting or fewer from 3-point range in eight of its 12 Patriot League games.
- The Greyhounds lead the Patriot League in turnovers forced per game (18.7) and 3-point FG% defense (27.7).
- Loyola is 5-5 at Reitz Arena this season compared to a 2-11 mark away from home.
Looking Ahead
- Loyola remains on the road next Wednesday, taking on Army at 6 p.m. and looking to complete a season sweep of the Black Knights.
