Women's Basketball's Second-Half Comeback Falls Just Short as Loyola Takes 49-46 Victory

BALTIMORE, Md. – The Bucknell women's basketball team fell in a back-and-forth contest at Loyola 49-46 on Saturday afternoon in Reitz Arena. Desirae Ashton's career-high 10 points, including eight in the final 11 minutes of the game, helped the Bison overcome a nine-point deficit, but free throws for the Greyhounds iced the game in the end.

Loyola (6-9, 2-2 PL) hit a 12-2 run midway through the third quarter to take the biggest lead of the game by either team. Mariah Hardy, returning to her hometown of Baltimore, ended the run with a tough basket, and Ashton scored the final five points of the quarter to get Bucknell (4-11, 0-4 PL) back within one possession. Ashton then scored the next three points for the Bison to start the fourth to make it a one-point game.

Anna Kunzwiler then scored the next three points of the game with a tough finish and a free throw to give the Bison a 44-42 lead. With just 90 seconds to play, Reese Zemitis hit a big shot to give the Bison a 46-44 lead, but the biggest moment of the game came at the other end as Amandine Amorich hit a three-pointer to put Loyola ahead 47-46.

Loyola went 1-for-2 at the line, but an offensive rebound and a foul gave them a second chance. Again, the Greyhounds went 1-for-2 at the line, and Ashton came away with the rebound. Zemitis had a good look at a three, but the shot rattled off the rim and Loyola took the 49-46 victory.

Bucknell and Loyola played a low-scoring first half as both sides played excellent defense early. Loyola looked at times able to pull away, but the Bison continued to fire back with big shots to keep the score within two possessions at the half.

Loyola got off to a quick 6-2 lead to open the game, but Richards and Zemitis both hit their first of two threes in the half to help the Bison to an 8-8 score at the media timeout. It was back-and-forth out of the timeout as Lex Therian, who scored eight points in the quarter, gave the Greyhounds the lead. Zemitis answered with another three, but Loyola's Whitley Watkins hit a three of her own to put Loyola ahead 13-11. Free throws by Isabella Casey and Ella Kreuzer both hit two free throws to put the Bison ahead 15-13, but Lex Therian beat the buzzer on the final play to even the score heading to the second.

Both sides traded scored early in the second before Loyola scored on consecutive possessions to take a 21-17 lead. Casey and Hardy then made tough baskets to tie the game at 21-21 at the media timeout. Loyola came out of the break with a 7-0 run to take the biggest lead of the game to that point at 28-21. Richards ended the run with her second three of the half to cut the deficit to four at the half.

Bucknell came out of the locker room and immediately took a 29-28 lead as Richards finished a difficult layup and Zemitis drained her third three of the game. Loyola responded well, hitting a 12-2 scoring run to take the biggest lead of the game at 40-31. Hardy stopped the run with a bucket, and it kicked off a 7-0 run for the Bison to make it just a two-point game heading to the fourth. Desirae Ashton made a big impact at the end of the quarter, scoring the final five points. With the shot clock winding down, Ashton made a big jump shot with a foul, and she converted the free throw. At the other end she sparked a break away with a big block, and she was fouled at the other end and converted a free throw to make it a one-point game.

Bucknell's 6-2 run to start the fourth quarter gave the Bison the lead, but Amorich's big three was the big basket that decided the game.

Zemitis led the Bison in the game with 11 points, and Ashton finished with 10 points. Ashton went 4-for-4 from the field and converted 2-of-3 free throws. Richards was 3-for-6 from the field for eight points, and made both of her three-point attempts. Loyola's Therian led all scorers in the game with 22 points.

Bucknell shot 34.7 percent from the field and were 5-of-19 from behind the arc. Loyola shot 41.3 percent from the field and went 3-of-14 from behind the arc. Loyola had 16 turnovers in the game compared to Bucknell's 16, and the Greyhounds out-rebounded Bucknell 30-28.

Bucknell is back in action on Wednesday night at 5 p.m., hosting Lafayette as the women's basketball team kicks off a double header in Sojka Pavilion with the men's game following at 7:30 p.m.

Women's Basketball's Second-Half Comeback Falls Just Short as Loyola Takes 49-46 Victory

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Team Stats

Reese Zemitis

Desirae Ashton

Kaila Richards

Anna Kunzwiler

Players Mentioned

Desirae Ashton

Isabella Casey

Mariah Hardy

Ella Kreuzer

Anna Kunzwiler

Reese Zemitis