WORCESTER, Mass. – Loyola University Maryland women's basketball closed its 2023-2024 season with its best record in 14 years on Thursday after College of the Holy Cross won a Patriot League Semifinal game, 72-54.
The Greyhounds closed the year with a 16-15 record, their best since 2010-11. Loyola had its best-ever finish since joining the Patriot League in 2013-14, coming in second with a 10-8 conference mark.
Laura Salmeron scored a team-high 17 points, 13 which came in the second half.
Ava Therien added 13 points for Loyola.
Lex Therien had Loyola within two with 2:06 to play in the first quarter on a left-handed layup, but the Crusaders (19-12 overall) scored the period's last seven points with the final two coming on a Janelle Allen basket with two ticks on the clock.
The Crusaders stretched their lead to double digits on a Cara McCormack basket less than four minutes into the second half, and it was 10, 35-25, at the break.
Kelly Ratigan cut the Loyola deficit to seven with a three just 86 seconds into the second half, but McCormak hit from behind the arc at 6:55, and Holy Cross was up 13.
The Crusaders' lead grew to 18, 50-32, with 2:47 to go in the third quarter, but Loyola closed the stanza on an 11-3 run to draw within 10 when
Lex Therien made a leaner at the buzzer to make it 53-43.
Loyola got within eight in the final quarter on two occasions, the last coming with a
Kimmie Hicks basket with 4:04 remaining, but the Crusaders scored 13 of the last 14 points in the game.
Lex Therien finished with eight points and seven rebounds, while Hicks added six points.
