BALTIMORE – Loyola University Maryland used a big run early in the second half to take command of a close game at the half, and the Greyhounds posted a 53-45 victory over St. Francis University on Wednesday afternoon in Reitz Arena.
Lex Therien notched her third double-double in four games this season, scoring a game-high 19 to go with 11 rebounds, while
Ava Therien finished a point of her career-high for the second game in a row, scoring 12.
St. Francis held the Greyhounds (3-1 overall) to 16.7 percent from the field in the second quarter, and the Red Flash (0-5) scored the stanza's first five points to lead 15-10 on a Kameryn Dorsey three with 6:15 to go before halftime.
Lex Therien scored in the paint less than 30 ticks of the clock later to trim the advantage to three, but a Yanessa Boyd basket and subsequent free throw from Destini Ward pushed St. Francis' lead to six, 18-12 at 4:08.
Loyola's defense held the Red Flash scoreless for the rest of the half, however, and two
Ava Therien baskets with 52 seconds left sent the teams to the locker room with the Greyhounds up, 19-18.
St. Francis regained the lead 13 seconds into the second half, but Loyola went on a 14-0 run which was fueled by seven points from
Lex Therien and five from
Kelly Ratigan.
Two
Lex Therien free throws at 5:59 put the Greyhounds in front by 12, 32-20, and Loyola led by at least five for the rest of the game.
Ratigan added seven points, and
Laura Salmerón had five, for Loyola. Both players had three assists to tie for team-high honors.
Lex Therien and
Amandine Amorich each had three steals as Loyola forced 21 St. Francis turnovers.
Carruthers scored a team-high 16 for St. Francis.
Loyola will be back in Reitz Arena on Saturday, November 25, for a 2 p.m. game against St. Bonaventure University.
