Baltimore -- The Loyola University Maryland women's basketball team lead by 15 points in the first quarter and did not look back, leading the entire game against UMBC for a 54-46 win.
The Retrievers (1-2 overall) made a jump shot with 5:39 left in the fourth quarter to cut their deficit down to three points.
Lex Therien responded with a layup to push Loyola's lead back to five points, and
Amandine Amorich came up big on the ensuing possession on the defensive end with a block.
Over the last 2:37 of the fourth quarter, the Greyhounds went on a 6-2 run to close out the Retrievers, and the Greyhounds (1-1 overall) hung on for the 54-46 win.
Loyola started the game fast with
Cristina Garcia scoring on a layup off of the opening tip to take the early lead. Garcia's opening layup gave the Greyhounds a early boost, and they jumped out to a 13-2 lead, after back-to-back three pointers from Laura Salmeron.
They continued their momentum throughout the first quarter and were clicking on both sides of the ball, holding the Retrievers to 1-10 shooting in the opening quarter, as they ended the opening quarter up 18-3.
UMBC managed to cut into its deficit in the second quarter, opening the second quarter on a 8-2 run, to trim the deficit down to nine points. Both teams traded baskets down the stretch, but the Greyhounds held on to the lead into halftime, 27-18.
Loyola started the third quarter strong with a pair of baskets from
Koi Sims and Therien to extend its lead to nine points with 7:22 remaining in the quarter.
UMBC would cut its deficit to two points, after a 7-0 run, with 3:24 remaining, but Loyola responded with a Sims jumper. Both teams once again traded baskets to end the quarter, and Loyola went into the fourth quarter with a 40-35 lead.
Salmeron led the team with 14 points, while
Kimmie Hicks added 12 points, and Therien had 11 points.
Sims added nine rebounds, and Hicks had a career-best 7 rebounds in the win.
Jaliena Sanchez and Jordon Lewis led the way for UMBC with 13 points each.
The Greyhounds will return to Reitz Arena on Wednesday evening when they host St. John's at 7:00 PM.
