Nov. 29, 2013

Chicago - Linnel Macklin scored on back-to-back possessions to close the door on Loyola in the final minutes of the game on Friday afternoon. Macklin hit a driving layup at the two minute mark, followed by a three from the wing to give the Leopards a 59-51 lead. The Leopards converted from the line to improve to 5-2 this season.

Lafayette scored 10 of its first 13 points in the paint, Danielle Fiacco with six and Emily Homan with four, to build an early 13-10 lead. The Leopards continued to score on the block, scoring 14 of their first 23 points, led by Homan's eight, Lafayette opened a 23-16 advantage at the eight minute mark.

Loyola closed the gap late in the first half, but a three from Macklin pushed the lead to eight, 33-25, at halftime. Lafayette shot 43.3 percent from the field in the opening half with Fiacco and Homan combining to shoot 8-for-11 and score 16 of the Leopards 33 points.

The Ramblers opened up the second half on a 6-0 run to pull within four, 33-29, at the 18 minute mark. Brya Freeland answered with a deep two from the corner to stop the spurt. Jamie O'Hare buried a three from the top of the key to push the Lafayette lead to nine, 38-29, with 16:18 on the clock.

O'Hare found a wide open Fiacco on the low block for an easy lay in to increase the lead to ten, 41-31, at the 11:43 mark. A baseline jumper from Kelly Loughney made it 43-32 with ten minutes to play.

Loyola trimmed the Lafayette lead to seven, 43-36, with under eight minutes left in the game. The Leopards came up with a defensive stop out of the media timeout, forcing a shot clock violation on Loyola, but Lafayette was unable to convert at the other end.

A three from Loyola at the six minute mark cut the deficit to three, 43-40. Trailing 44-40, the Ramblers pulled to within a bucket, as Troy Hambric converted a pair from the free throw line. After the Leopards came up empty on their next possession, Loyola took its lead since the first half, when Becca Smith converted a three-point play.

Homan scored the first four, followed by a Freeland jumper, as Lafayette went on a 6-2 run to regain the lead with under four minutes to play. On Loyola's next possession, Homan fouled out, finishing her afternoon with 12 points.

After controlling the rebound, Loyola stole the ball from Lafayette and made it a one possession game, 50-49, at the three minute mark. Freeland and O'Hare each converted a pair from the line to increase the lead to five. Macklin made a driving layup, forcing a Rambler timeout with the Leopards leading 56-49 with 2:06 to play.

Macklin connected on a three from the wing with a minute and a half to play to push Lafayette's advantage to ehti, 59-51. The Leopards were able to convert from the charity stripe in the final minute to walk away with a 66-55 victory.

Lafayette was powered by Homan and Macklin each scoring 12 points, and Fiacco's 11 points and 9 boards. Smith led the Ramblers with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Leopards end their five-game road swing on Thursday night when they visit NJIT.