BALTIMORE – Laura Salmerón scored 15 of her season-high 18 points in the second half, but a large early deficit was too much for Loyola University Maryland to overcome in a 64-55 defeat to Morgan State on Wednesday.

The Greyhounds (3-6) rallied to take the lead in the third quarter after trailing 26-6 early on. The visiting Bears (6-4), though, closed the game on a 13-4 run to hold on for their sixth-consecutive victory. Dahnye Redd led Morgan State with 15 points, while Ashia McCalla supplied 14 points and six rebounds.

A Salmerón 3-pointer put Loyola ahead 3-2 in the opening minute. The Bears followed with an extended 18-0 run over the next seven-plus minutes, and they maintained a 26-8 advantage heading into the second quarter.

The Greyhounds cut the margin down to 34-23 at the intermission, and a pair of Taleah Dixon free throws capped a 7-0 run to begin the second half. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Salmerón brought the home side all the way back to take a 42-41 lead with 2:27 left in the third.

After the large swings in momentum, it was ultimately a 51-51 game at the final media timeout with 6:58 remaining in regulation. A McCalla 3-pointer began a run of six-straight points for Morgan State, and the visitors limited Loyola to four points down the stretch to clinch the win in the first meeting between the teams since 1985.

Salmerón hit 7 of 11 field goal attempts, including 4 of 7 shots from long distance, and added a season-best three steals for the Greyhounds. Lex Therien contributed eight points and 13 boards, Dixon finished with nine points and Bri Rozzi dished out a career-high six assists.

Loyola hits the road for its final two non-conference games, beginning with a 2 p.m. matchup at Toledo on Saturday.