Nov. 27, 2005

Box Score

Tampa, Fla. - Loyola's backcourt trio of Marquise Hanser, Jana Lucas and Mandy Mennella combined for 45 points, but UMBC scored the first 11 points of the second half and never looked back in a 67-55 win over the Ramblers this afternoon in the consolation game of the USF/Best Western Roundball Classic in Tampa, Fla. The Ramblers fall to 0-5 with the loss while the Retrievers improve to 3-1 with the win.

"We need to become more consistent, both offensively and defensively," said Hanser. "Right now, we are having breakdowns at the wrong times but they are things we can correct and eliminate. The more we play together in this system, the better we will be. It is just a matter of eliminating our mistakes and being more consistent. We did some nice things this weekend and it is just one of those things where we need to keep working hard in practice and improving as a team and the wins will come."

Loyola opened the game strong with Hanser scoring the first five points before Mennella drilled a three-pointer from the left wing to give LU an early 8-0 lead. UMBC got on the board with a Mackenzie Butler put-back and slowly chipped away at the Rambler lead, eventually taking a 12-11 lead of its own with 11:10 to go in the half. Lucas buried a three-pointer and scored on a put-back of her own, as the Ramblers fought back to take an 18-12 lead after 12 minutes. However, UMBC's Matea Pender got hot from the arc as the Retrievers surged to a 26-21 lead before settling on a 28-25 lead at intermission. Loyola struggled from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, hitting just 9-of-25 (.360) overall, however, 5-of-11 (.455) shooting from the arc kept it in the game.

Pender had five points, including a tradtional three-point play, as UMBC reeled off the first 11 points of the second half to take a commanding 39-25 lead after four minutes. Five LU turnovers contributed to the spurt, which ended with a Mennella three-ball at the 15:28 mark. The shot seemed to wake up the Ramblers, as Hanser drilled back-to-back treys to cap a quick 9-0 response and slice the deficit to just five (39-34) with just under 14 minutes on the clock. Mennella found Hanser for another triple out of the right corner minutes later to trim the margin to three but UMBC was able to get the lead back to double figures as four free throws and a clutch Sharri Rohde three-pointer helped comprise a 9-0 spurt that made it 51-39 with 7:53 to play. Loyola did not quit and when Lucas hit a short jumper from the left, LU was back within four (51-47) with six minutes still to play. However, the Ramblers could not get over the hump and the Retrievers were able to pull away down the stretch.

"I feel like we are progressing and improving in some areas of the game and now we just need to put together a complete game," said Mennella. "After losing some people from last year and having to get used to an entirely different coaching staff, I feel that we are all believing in Coach Reidy's system but we are still trying to get used to playing with each other and putting everything together for 40 minutes, which it what it will take to get a win."

Hanser continued her strong start to the season, finishing with a game-high 23 points to go with seven rebounds. Mennella, who missed LU's first three games and played sparingly in her first appearance yesterday, pitched in with 11 points off the bench while Lucas added her first collegiate double-double, closing with 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Pender and Brittnie Hughes each scored 16 points to lead UMBC.

Loyola returns home tomorrow and gets back on the court Tuesday night when it hosts Chicago State at the Gentile Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.