Dec. 30, 2002

Box Score

CHICAGO - Maria Viall scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds but it wasn't enough as Loyola University placed three players in double figures on the night en route to a 66-57 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the Horizon League opener for both teams here Monday (Dec. 30). The Ramblers, who led 35-28 at the half, improved to 3-8 on the year and 1-0 in Horizon League play while UWM fell to 4-7 overall and 0-1 in league action.

Milwaukee took control of the game early on, grabbing a 16-10 lead with 13:05 remaining in the first half. Loyola then went on a 9-0 run over the next 1:36 to grab a 19-16 lead, one it wouldn't relinquish the rest of the night. UWM faced further trouble in the first half when junior center Maria Viall missed the final 8:21 of the half with two fouls. Loyola hit four three pointers in the first half while outrebounding Milwaukee 19-14. The Panthers struggled to handle the ball in the first stanza, committing 11 turnovers in falling behind by seven.

The homestanding Ramblers continued to lead throughout the game, thanks to missed opportunities on the offensive end and breakdowns defensively. UWM cut the Loyola lead to five, 49-44, on a Nichole Drummond free throw with 6:04 left to go, but could get no closer the rest of the way. Milwaukee did get within six, 56-50, on two Viall free throws but Loyola held on and connected on free throws for the final nine-point cushion.

Meskhenet Lands led Loyola with 17 points while Tracy Hoffman and and Ciara Henderson added 14 and 12 respectively. The Ramblers hit 7-of-19 three pointers while holding UWM to 1-12 from behind the arc. UWM commited 24 turnovers on the game while missing 9 of 14 second half free throws. Nichole Drummond and Jessica Wilhite added nine points apiece for UWM.

Milwaukee will look to break into the Horizon League win column Thursday (Jan. 2) when Detroit comes to the Klotsche Center for a 7 p.m. tipoff.