Box Score (PDF)CHICAGO -- TaQuandra Mike had a team-high 17 points, and
Rangie Bessard had 16 points but Wichita State fell, 60-55, at Loyola Friday night inside Gentile Arena.
After holding a 29-24 halftime lead the Shockers lost the third quarter, 15-10, and the fourth quarter 21-16. Loyola went on a 10-4 run to close the game in the final four minutes after Bessard picked up her fifth foul on an offensive foul before Stovall hit a three-pointer as time expired to cut the final score to 60-55.
For the game, Loyola out-shot WSU a narrow 46.8 percent to 46.5 percent, while WSU had 23 turnovers for the game. WSU did out-rebound the Ramblers, 27-24, but had just seven assists on 20 baskets.
In the third quarter, two free throws by Loyola's Johnson tied the game at 36 even at the 2:23 mark. An and-one followed by Mike to put WSU back up by three, 39-36 with 1:25 left in the quarter. Loyola's Wheeler made a trey with 44 seconds left to tie the game at 39-all.
In the second half, Loyola made 54 percent of its shots (12-22), after shooting just 40 percent in the first half. WSU's percentage fell from 58 percent (10-17) in the first half to 38 percent (10-26) in the second half.
Wichita State used the first quarter to take a 17-10 lead led by Bessard's nine points, which included four free throws. The Shockers opened the game shooting 66.7 percent from the field (4-6) while an 8-of-8 effort from the line helped WSU's lead.
Loyola took its first lead at the 1:34 mark of the second quarter on a layup by Wheeler before Mike took the lead back with a bucket for WSU, 25-24, at the 1:10 mark. The two points were the first of a string of six unanswered points to close the half and give WSU a 29-24 halftime lead.
In the first half, WSU out-shot the Ramblers, 58.8 percent (10-17) to 40 percent (10-25), and also won the glass battle, 14-9. Bessard's 11 points and Mike's 10 points led WSU while Taylor Johnson's 10 points led Loyola.
The Shockers are next in action 2 p.m., Sunday at Bradley in Peoria, Ill.
