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EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette women's basketball team received earned their third Patriot League win of the season against Loyola on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Greyhounds by a final score of 65-54.

Drew Freeland and Natalie Kucowski led the way for the Maroon and White, finishing with 17 and 18, respectively. Freeland tied her career-high while knocking down 3-of-3 from deep. The Leopards were able to chase Loyola off the three-point arc all afternoon, holding the Greyhounds to a dismal 3-for-18 (16.7%) from deep.

"We have an amazing team and we always try to find the open player," Freeland stated. "Today that happened to be me; and it was a great team win on our home court."

The Leopards jumped all over Loyola to start the contest, going on a 7-0 run over the first 1:57. Kucowski got things started with a three while Freeland finished the barrage with back-to-back baskets in transition, forcing Loyola into a timeout. The Greyhounds regrouped after their timeout, scoring the first two baskets following the break. Ashley Hunter pulled Loyola within one before Freeland and Alexis Santarelli combined for seven straight points to put the Leopards up 16-8. Stephanie Karcz finished through a foul to cut the Leopards lead to five heading into the second quarter, with the score sitting at 16-11.

The Maroon and White had a tougher time scoring in the second quarter than in the first, going 3-for-14 in the period. Loyola was able to grow back into the game as a result of Lafayette's shooting woes, outscoring the Leopards 17-9. Kucowski answered four straight points from the Greyhounds with a finish down low to put the score at 23-16 heading into the media timeout at the four minute mark. Loyola ended the quarter on a 12-2 run to put the Leopards down three, 28-25, to start the second half.

Lafayette traded baskets with the Greyhounds to open the third quarter until the Leopards swung the momentum with a 7-0 run to take a 39-33 lead into the media timeout. Martino knocked down a three in the middle of the flurry, before Freeland dropped one in high off the glass to push the Leopards' lead to six. Santarelli and Kucowski added a combined six points at the end of the quarter by getting three apiece after finishing through fouls to put the Leopards up 46-37 to begin the fourth quarter.

The Leopards wasted little time in the fourth quarter, embarking on a 13-2 run over the first 3:42 to take an 18-point lead with 6:00 to play. Kucowski started and capped the run with four of her team-high 18 points. The Greyhounds continued to chip away as time wound down, but Lafayette held its ground to earn an 11-point win, 65-54.

Santarelli added 14 points for the Leopards off the bench, contributing to the Maroon and White's 23-3 advantage in bench points. Lafayette forced the Greyhounds into 19 turnovers, finishing with 12 steals. The Maroon and White were stellar from the charity stripe, going 13-for14 (92.9%).

"Our bench provided us with a lot of energy today," head coach Kia Damon said. "It showed in how we were able to press and force them in turnovers that turned into easy baskets for us."

The Leopards hit the road for their contest, traveling to Annapolis to tangle with Navy. Tip-off with the Midshipmen is scheduled for 7 p.m.