BALTIMORE – Monmouth University women's basketball built a 24-10 lead less than two minutes into Wednesday night's second quarter, but Loyola University Maryland trimmed its halftime deficit to seven, pulled within one late in the third quarter, took a lead just over a minute into the fourth and then went ahead for good in the final minute to claim a 61-59 non-conference win in Reitz Arena.
 
Taleah Dixon took a Bri Rozzi pass and knocked down a three with 1:26 left in regulation, tying the score at 54-54, and after a defensive stop, Lex Therien scored in the paint to put Loyola (2-2 overall) in front with 33 ticks on the clock.
 
The Hawks (2-2) came up empty on their next offensive possession when Brianna Tinsley's layup went off the mark, and Therien pulled down the rebound.
 
She was fouled and made two free throws with 25 seconds showing, padding the lead to 58-54. Anaya Coleman, however, was fouled and hit two at the charity stripe for Monmouth only two seconds later, and it was a two-point game again.
 
Dixon was fouled on the inbound, and she made both foul shots to push the advantage back to four with 21 ticks on the clock, but Monmouth called a timeout to advance the ball, and Coleman hit a step-back three with less than seven seconds remaining, pulling Hawks back within one.
 
After the three, Dixon again took the outlet pass, dribbling more than three seconds off the clock before being fouled. She made the first of two free throws with Monmouth getting a rebound after the second was deflected out of bounds. The Hawks' desperation heave from beyond halfcourt went off the side of the backboard, securing Loyola's second-straight win.
 
Therien had a game-high 19 points, while Dixon ended with 14. Caramina Tañedo added a season-best 11, and Koi Sims scored 10. Therien and Sims both had nine rebounds for the Greyhounds.
 
Loyola starts a two-game road swing on Saturday, November 19, when it heads to Fairfax, Virginia, to face George Mason University in a 3 p.m. game.