BALTIMORE (AP) — Lex Therien scored 21 points on near-perfect shooting as Loyola University Maryland led wire to wire in a 68-59 victory over American on Wednesday afternoon at Reitz Arena.

With the win, Loyola has won their last four games and five of their last six games. 

Therien went 10 of 11 from the field to pace four Greyhounds in double figures as Loyola (5-7, 1-0 Patriot League) opened conference play with a strong home performance. Koi Sims recorded her second straight double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Amandine Amorich finished with 13 points and Sydney Bass chipped in 11 off the bench. Amorich also led the team with six assists in the win.

Loyola set the tone early, shooting 87.5 percent in the first quarter while building a 30-15 lead. The Greyhounds pushed the margin to as many as 23 points late in the second quarter and took a 45-23 advantage into halftime.

The Greyhounds 30 first quarter points are their most first quarter points in program history, while it also ties the most points in any quarter.

American (2-10, 0-1) made a push in the third period behind Madisyn Moore-Nicholson, who scored 21 points, but Loyola answered each run and never allowed the lead to drop below double digits until the final minutes. Charlotte Tuhy added 16 points for the Eagles.

The Greyhounds finished the game shooting 59.2 percent from the field and outscored American 44-16 in the paint, offsetting a cold shooting stretch in the third quarter.

Loyola also out-rebounded the Eagles 33-23 on the afternoon, as Loyola held American to just 22.6 percent shooting from three-point range. 

The Greyhounds return to action Saturday as they travel to face Lafayette in their first road Patriot League matchup.