Nov. 7, 2007

Final Stats

CHICAGO - Elyse VanBogaert pumped in 28 points as Loyola raced past Purdue-Calumet, 99-53, tonight at the Gentile Center in its lone exhibition game before opening the 2007-08 season.

Loyola controlled the game from the opening tap, racing out to an 11-0 lead after just 1:54, as Maggie McCloskey buckets opened and closed the spurt. The lead ballooned to 20 (26-6) on a VanBogaert hoop at the 9:11 mark and Loyola put the game further out of reach with an 8-1 run - highlighted by a three-point field goal and three-point play from VanBogaert - to end the half as the Ramblers took a 45-17 lead into the locker room. VanBogaert had 16 points in the period, nearly outscoring the Peregrines by herself, and Loyola's defense held its visitors to just 21% shooting (5-for-24) in the half.

The second half was more of the same, as solid halfcourt defense led to transition opportunities. A Jennifer Juergens hoop gave LU a 51-17 lead in the early moments of the second half and the lead would not fall below 30 points the rest of the way.

VanBogaert hit 9-of-11 field goals, including three treys, and all seven of her free throws for her game-high point total. Juergens, who scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half, and McCloskey (16 points, four three-pointers) joined her in double figures as did Keisha Collins, who finished with 14 points and 11 assists without a turnover at the point guard spot.

Ten Ramblers scratched in the scorebook for the night, as the team shot .597 from the floor for the game and held UPC to just .286 accuracy.

Loyola opens the regular season this Saturday evening (Nov. 10) against Robert Morris College. Tip-time from the Gentile Center is scheduled for 5 p.m.