Salukis suffer 62-53 setback at Loyola

By Will Becque siusalukis.com

CHICAGO – Behind a game-high 19 points from Jessica Cerda, the Loyola Ramblers knocked off the Southern Illinois Salukis, 62-53 Sunday afternoon inside Gentile Arena.

Cerda finished 5-of-11 from the field, and 4-of-7 from three-point range. She was a major reason that the Ramblers were able to snap their four-game losing streak to the Salukis as she helped Loyola exceed it’s season average of 5.3 three-pointers per game. The Ramblers were 7-of-15 (46.7%) from the behind the arc in their wire-to-wire win.

“We were flat,” fifth-year head coach Cindy Stein said. “Whatever reason for it, we were flat today. I think Loyola played a great game and dominated the game from the tip. You have to give Loyola credit for a tough, great game plan. They made it tough for everybody to score.”

The Salukis were able to whittle the lead down to seven at the end of the third quarter on an up and under by Abby Brockmeyer and got to within four on multiple occasions in the fourth quarter, including with 27 seconds to go on a three-point play by Brittney Patrick, but were ultimately undone by costly turnovers down the stretch.

All 10 Salukis who dressed played, as Coach Stein shuffled her deck as much as she could in an attempt to give Southern’s exhausted starting five breathers throughout.

“We don’t want to use anything as an excuse,” Stein said. “If we want to have a chance at the MVC Tournament Championship, we are going to have to play three games in three days.”

Nicole Martin scored in double figures for the 11th time in her last 12 games, and 19th time overall this season, as she finished with a team-high 15 points to go along with four rebounds. Kylie Giebelhausen added nine points and four boards.

The Salukis return to action on Friday, Feb. 23 when they travel to Springfield, Mo. to take on Missouri State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.