EASTON, Pa. - The Leopards' strong start could not push them through to a mid-week victory, as Loyola pulled away late to a 66-55 final on Wednesday night at Kirby Sports Center.
 
Junior Makayla Andrews remained the Leopards' steady shooter, leading with 16 points while adding eight rebounds. The guard is averaging 13.7 points per game on the year. In her first game back since facing Lehigh on Feb. 4, sophomore guard Abby Antognoli reached double figures with 11 points.
 
Graduate student Taleah Dixon led Loyola with 20 points. The Greyhounds' season leading scorer and rebounder Lex Therien contributed a double-double, netting 17 points and grabbing 20 boards. Loyola outrebounded the Leopards 40-27.
 
Lafayette controlled momentum in the first, shooting 73 percent (11-for-15) from the floor as they led 25-19 at the end of the first quarter. Andrews guided the Leopards with eight points.
 
Loyola opened the second with a 6-2 run up to 5:43, shrinking the Leopards' lead to 27-25. Loyola held a 32-31 advantage at halftime.
 
In the third quarter, the teams remained evenly matched as Andrews netted six and freshman Kay Donahue chipped in five points to send the game tied 47 apiece into the final quarter. 
 
Loyola opened the fourth with a 13-4 run paced by Dixon with six points, taking a 60-51 lead with 1:03 left on the clock.

Antognoli went 2-for-2 from the line as the Leopards picked up a steal off of a Loyola inbound under Lafayette's basket as Sauda Ntaconayigize dropped in a layup to bring Lafayette within five, 60-55 with 52 seconds remaining.
 
Bri Rozzi put in a layup with 35 seconds left, to hand Loyola a 62-55 lead. The Leopards were forced to foul and Therien and Kelly Ratigan capitalized on their trips to the charity stripe, securing the 66-55 victory.
 
Lafayette returns home on Saturday to host Army in its annual Play4Kay game at 2 p.m.