Baltimore -- Laura Salmeron put up a game-tying shot at the buzzer for the Loyola University Maryland women's basketball team, but could not force overtime, as the visiting Lafayette College Leopards held on for the 57-54 win to close out the regular season.
Meliah Van-Otoo scored on a fast break layup early in the fourth quarter, but Lafayette responded with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, as they led 47-38 with 8:20 remaining.
Van-Otoo made a open three-pointer off a assist from Laura Salmeron, but once again, the Leopards (8-20 overall, 6-12 Patriot League) responded with a basket of their own to hold on to the eight point lead.
The Greyhounds (9-19 overall, 3-15 Patriot League) used a 7-2 run over a 1:23 span to cut their deficit down to three points, as they trailed 51-48 with 4:06 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Both teams once again traded baskets with 1:54 remaining, as Lafayette held onto their lead.
Lily Bottomley scored on a layup on the Greyhounds next possession, as Loyola trailed 54-52 with 1:08 remaining.
On the next Lafayette possession, after a missed jumper, they grabbed the offensive rebound before Loyola was forced to foul, but Lafayette made just one of two free throws, as the Greyhounds trailed 55-52 with 18 seconds remaining.
On the next Loyola possesssion, Lafayette's defense held strong, not allowing a Loyola three, as
Amandine Amorich scored on a layup with 1.5 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one point.
Loyola managed to foul immediately once the ball was inbounded, as Lafayette made both free throws to retake a three-point lead. Loyola had one lasat chance with 1.2 remaining, as Laura Salmeron's game-tying shot was just long, as Lafayette held on for the 57-54 win.
Salmeron recorded 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in her last career game in Reitz Arena.
Amandine Amorich added 11 points, while
Koi Sims had 8 points and 12 rebounds.
Meliah Van-Otoo had 9 points off of the bench.
Teresa Kiewiet led all scorers with 17 points for Lafayette, as Abby Antognoli had 16 points on the night.
To open the third quarter, Loyola and Lafayette traded baskets to open the quarter, as Amorich and Antognoli traded three-pointers, as the score was tied 28-28 with 7:35 left in the third quarter.
After a pair of baskets for both teams, Lafayette used a 8-2 run to pull away in the third quarter, as they took a 42-34 lead. Their momentum continued throughout the remainder of the quarter, as they entered the fourth quarter up 44-36.
After a slow first 18 minutes to the first half for Loyola, Laura Salmeron led the Greyhounds on a 8-2 run over the final 1:15 of the quarter. Salmeron scored her first points on a driving layup, before knocking down a open three-pointer on the assist from Amorich, as Loyola cut their deficit down to four points with 31 seconds left.
Loyola forced a stop with just a couple seconds remaining, as Salmeron was fouled on a last second heave, as she made all three free throws, as she cut their deficit to 23-22 going into halftime.
The Greyhounds enter the Patriot League Championships as the No. 9 seed, and will travel up to Boston to face the Terriers in the First Round on Saturday at 2:00 PM.
