The Loyola Women's basketball team continued to struggle to find their footing, as they extended their losing streak to four games with losses to Marist and Fairfield.
After a disappointing offensive performance against the Siena Saints, the Loyola Women's basketball team appeared to work out some chinks in their chain but could not discourage the output from the Red Foxes of Marist as they lost a heartbreaking contest 63-60 on Sunday Jan. 24. The loss is the third straight MAAC game for the 4-4 Greyhounds. The matchup in Poughkeepsie, NY was also the third defeat decided by three points or less.
Although the team vastly improved their shooting performance after the 33 point total on Friday, the Greyhound still could only connect on 31.7 percent for the game. Additionally, the team's struggles off the glass continued as they were outrebounded 45-40 by Marist.
The first half of action saw a swing of leads as both squads traded baskets back and forth. Loyola's largest lead occurred during the 15-minute mark after Meredith Tolley put in a layup to give a Loyola an 8-5 early advantage.
However, the strong play from Marist's Rachelle Fitz put the home Red Foxes up by five at 21-16 with just over five minutes remaining. The tough aggressive play from redshirt junior Erica DiClemente kept Loyola back in the game and kept the Marist halftime lead to just three points at 26-23.
Looking to end the Red Foxed 11 game win streak and give the home team their first loss in MAAC play the Hounds played tough as they were able to keep Marist within sights by keeping the opposing teams lead to just four after six minutes into the second period. Key scores from Miriam McKenzie and Devon Carey propelled the team's spirits.
While the contest appeared to be a tough closely contested battle, the Red Foxes had other plans for the afternoon. Fitz continued to be a tough matchup as she dropped several important jumpers. A long three-pointer from Erica Allenspach put Marist up by 12 with just four minutes remaining.
What occurred next was a fury of events for the hounds. Forcing to foul the visitors, Marist would eventually obtain their largest lead of the game at 60-46 with 2 minutes 17 seconds left. While it looked like the game was under wraps, Coach Logan had his team believing otherwise. Loyola took advantage of several fouls by Marist and connected on 6 consecutive foul shots from DiClemente and McKenzie. Miraculously being only down by four at this moment in the game, the Hounds grabbed a defensive rebound off a Red Fox missed free throw and kicked out to Devon Carey waiting for a wide-open three point. While Carey's attempt drew iron, Alyssa Sutherland boxed out her defender and pulled down an offensive board. The freshmen from Syracuse, New York scanned the court and found DiClemente whereupon she nailed a long 2-pointer.
Having to foul again with just 16 ticks on the game clock, the Hounds fouled Fitz. After two misses from Fitz, Loyola looked to sophomore sensation McKenzie for the game tying shot. Despite her gutsy performance on the day, her shot fell short and Loyola fell to Marist.
McKenzie continued her overall great play by putting in 20 points, six assist, three steals, and eight rebounds.
Playing in similar fashion as the last several games, the rallying spirit of the Loyola women's basketball team could not fight off the tough defense of the visitors from Fairfield, as the Stags held on for a gritty 63-58 victory.
The Hounds found themselves down by ten midway through the second half, before knocking down several key three-pointers, and evening the score at 51 with just fewer than three minutes to play.
"We need to realize that sense of urgency much earlier in the game. We ran out of time in today's game," stated Coach Joe Logan. "I know that were capable of playing with a great sense of urgency for 20-30 minutes throughout the game."
The game began with a slow pace, as Loyola had difficulties with Fairfield's strong man-man pressure. The Hounds and the Stags had combined for just 21 points at 13-8 eight minutes into the contest. This day would see Loyola fight tough to hang with the visitors as Senior Kaitlin Grant put in a lay-up to interrupt their nearly 4 minute scoring drought.
Then, a nice offensive possession ensued as Loyola skipped passed over the defense to an open Erica DiClemente who drained a long jumper to cut their deficit to three at 15-12. The Hounds would continue to put the pressure on the Stags as they rolled to a 10-2 run to take a one-point lead at 18-17.
As much as rebounding has been an area for concern for Loyola, they were able to control the second chance opportunities from Fairfield. A key basket from Grant kept Loyola within two points at 28-26 before the horn sounded for halftime.
After both teams had time to regroup, Loyola still looked confused offensively. Fairfield continued to double team the Hounds' guards underneath the hoop and provided a nuisance for Loyola's scoring hopes.
Particularly, Loyola could not get many shots off until the shot clock ran under five seconds. "We need to do a better job of limiting other teams dribble penetration," said Logan. "We also need to avoid getting caught in screens. We have to grow up a little, and play like an older team."
A blistering 10-0 run by the Stags pushed their advantage with just under 13 minutes remaining. However, much like many deep March Madness games go, the Hounds found the force to cut away at the lead and not take the Stags too lightly.
Loyola's Miriam McKenzie found the net, on a nice off the glass layup that would have had CBS' Bill Raftery exclaiming his famous "kiss of the glass" phrase. After she converted the and-one on the layup, Loyola had just five points to make up. After Fairfield made the frontend of a two shot foul-attempt, DiClemente nailed a pivotal deep three pointer from the key to cut the Stags lead to just three.
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