EASTON, Pa. – The Lafayette College women's basketball team defeated Loyola, 48-39, on Wednesday in Kirby Sports Center to win its third straight and remain undefeated in Patriot League action.
 
The Leopards were led by junior Jessica Booth who totaled a team-high 12 points for her ninth game this season in double figures. Senior Nicole Johnson recorded seven points while senior Naomi Ganpo, senior Makaila Wilson and freshman Claire Gallagher each recorded six.
 
Sophomore Makayla Andrews recorded a team-high seven rebounds, Wilson totaled a team-high four assists, and Ganpo recorded a team-high five blocks.
 
Lafayette (7-6, 3-0 PL) opened up the game with a 6-0 run, forcing Loyola (3-10, 0-3 PL) to call an early timeout.
 
The Greyhounds drew a foul right out of the timeout and made both of their extra shots to get themselves on the board, bringing the score to 6-2. Gallagher added to the Leopards lead with a three-pointer to put the score at 9-2 before Loyola added a layup to cut the Leopards lead down to five.
 
Loyola continued to chip away at Lafayette's lead, bringing the score within three. Booth put in basket with 45 second left in the quarter to put Lafayette ahead by five, but Loyola responded with a basket of its own with 19 seconds left to send the game into the second quarter with Lafayette ahead 13-10.
 
Sophomore Kayla Drummond got Lafayette off to the right start in the second quarter, putting in a layup to put the Maroon and White up by five. The Greyhounds responded with a 5-0 run to put the score even at 15 seven minutes into the second quarter.
 
The two sides traded buckets, putting the score at 17-17. Freshman Kylie Favours broke the tie to put Lafayette up 19-17 and sparked a run for the Maroon and White to eventually them put 23-17 with 2:15 left to play in the half.
 
Loyola added four shots from the charity stripe, sending the game into halftime with Lafayette in the lead 23-21.
 
Loyola came out of halftime to tie the score at 23 before it was Booth who put Lafayette back in the lead. Loyola battled back to tie up the game at 27 as the third quarter media timeout was called.  
 
The Greyhounds took the lead, 31-27, after the media timeout but Gallagher drained her second three pointer of the night to pull Lafayette within one heading into the final quarter of the game.  
 
Freshman Abby Antognoli put Lafayette in the lead right away in the fourth quarter, putting in a shot from beyond the arc off an assist by Wilson, to put Lafayette up 31-30. Loyola answered Antongoli's three with a basket of its own to tie up the game at 33.  
 
Johnson responded for the Leopards with back-to-back buckets to put Lafayette ahead by five with 7:44 left to play in the game and from there, the Leopards were able to take control of the game and cruise to their third straight Patriot League victory.

The Greyhounds were led by Lex Therien who totaled a game-high 16 points and eight rebounds. 
 
Wednesday night's win keeps the Maroon and White on pace with the 1993-94 team who also opened up Patriot League play 3-0. The win also marks the seventh straight win for Lafayette over Loyola.
 
Up next for the Maroon and White is a battle with the Army West Point Black Knights on Saturday in Kirby Sports Center. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.