The Basics
Final Score: Loyola 52, Detroit Mercy 43
Records: Detroit Mercy 1-2, Loyola 1-1
Location: Chicago, Ill. (Gentile Arena)
CHICAGO (11/12/2018) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball team dropped a road contest Monday night as host Loyola rallied in the fourth quarter to pick up a 52-43 victory from Gentile Arena. It was the first meeting between the two old conference rivals since 2013.
The Titans led for the majority of the contest, leading at the halftime break and after three quarters as the Detroit Mercy defense again limited the opponent's scoring chances. Loyola went on a run to open the fourth quarter to take its first lead of the game, but the red, white and blue fought back several times.
An
Ashley Miller 3-point play with 5:20 remaining cut the Loyola lead to three, 42-39, and later on in the fourth stanza,
Brittney Jackson's long jumper cut the Titan deficit to four, 45-41, with 2:05 on the clock.
Lexey Tobel's lay-up with 1:36 remaining made it a one-possession game, 46-43, but Loyola countered with a bucket.
With 48 ticks on the clock, the Titans were questionably called for an unsportsmanlike conduct foul after the Titans were forced to foul. Loyola received two free throws to go up seven points. The Ramblers then connected on two more free throws after a technical foul as Detroit Mercy went down nine. The questionable calls helped end the Titans' comeback bid.
Three Titans scored eight points -- freshman
Paige Bellman, Jackson and Oatis. Bellman had another strong all-around game with nine rebounds, four steals and three blocks for Detroit Mercy, while Tobel added six boards and a team-best three assists. Oatis and Tobel each added two steals as Detroit Mercy had a season-high 11 thefts.
Detroit Mercy connected on its 3-point shots early in the contest to race out to a 12-2 lead. The Titans made four triples in the first quarter with Bellman sinking her first 3-pointer of the season, Jackson adding a pair of treys and freshman
Sophia DiMilia sinking her first collegiate shot, burying a triple to put the Titans ahead 12-2 at the 3:20 mark of the first quarter.
Bellman added a bucket in the paint late in the first as Detroit Mercy led after one, 14-9. Loyola rallied in the second quarter to knot the game, 19-19 just before the halftime break, but Detroit Mercy took the lead after two, 22-19, as Oatis drilled a 3-pointer from the wing. Detroit Mercy was 5-of-10 from beyond the arc in the first half.
Freshman
Jess Bicknell provided a boost in the third quarter, notching a steal after she checked into the game in the latter part of the third quarter. She then found Bellman for a bucket inside and with 46 seconds left in the third, sank a tough jumper in the paint for her first collegiate points.
Detroit Mercy shot 17-for-54 in the contest (31.5 percent), including 5-of-15 from beyond the arc. Tobel added seven points and both DiMilia and Miller had five points.
Titan News & Notes
• The Titans held their opponent under 60 points for the third-consecutive contest and under 55 for the second-straight.
• Detroit Mercy's 11 steals were a season-best with
Paige Bellman totaling a season-high four steals.
• Bellman also had three blocks for the second-straight contest and it was her third-game with nine or more boards.
• Titan freshman
Sophia DiMilia made her collegiate debut, scoring five points in 20 minutes.
• Freshman guard
Jess Bicknell also scored her first collegiate points.
• For the third-straight game this season, the Titans forced their opponent into 15 or more turnovers.
• The Titans have 17 blocked shots after three games (5.7 per game).
• It was the 69th meeting all-time between the old MCC/Horizon League rivals in women's basketball.
• Detroit Mercy holds the advantage in the series, 47-22, and has played Loyola more than any other opponent in program history.
Up Next
Detroit Mercy next plays on Friday, Nov. 16, hosting Mid-American Conference foe Miami from Calihan Hall. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game is slated to be steamed live via ESPN-Plus for a monthly subscription fee.
