EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The University of Evansville women's basketball team battled Loyola in a close battle inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse before the Ramblers pulled away late in the Purple Aces' 60-47 loss on Friday night.

"I thought tonight we had a chance. There was that stretch there right at the end of the third quarter that Loyola went on that run and, unfortunately, that kind of sealed our fate for the game," said Aces head coach Matt Ruffing. "I thought we were moving in the right direction in the third quarter, but they got the better of us."

For the eighth-straight game, junior guard Kerri Gasper paced Evansville in scoring with 23 points to go along with eight rebounds, two steals, an assist, and a block. In just 15 minutes of action, junior center Tattenai Hall scored five points and pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds. The Ramblers were led by Abby O'Connor who finished with 18 points, while Kat Nolan picked up a game high 12 boards to go with six points.

A back-and-forth battle in the opening quarter featured five lead changes before a 6-5 lead with 5:02 left in the period. Loyola did not relinquish the lead in the first quarter as the Ramblers built an 8-7 advantage to a 15-9 lead at the conclusion of the first 10 minutes of action. In the opening quarter, Gasper helped keep the Aces within striking distance of the Ramblers, scoring seven of her 23 points in the first period while also grabbing four boards.

To open the second quarter, Loyola pushed its lead to eight at 17-9, but Evansville had a response. The Aces scored five-straight points on a jumper by freshman guard Kayla Casteel and three-pointer from redshirt sophomore guard Marley Miller, trimming the Ramblers' advantage to three at 17-14 just 1:20 into the quarter. Loyola answered with a 13-5 run to close the period and open up a 30-19 advantage at the halftime break.
 

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Box Score (PDF)

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Out of the break, Gasper helped lead Evansville back within single digits in the third quarter. The junior scored seven of the Aces' first 12 points in the third period to propel UE back within just four at 35-31 with 2:42 left on the clock in the frame. The turning point in the contest followed Evansville's run as Loyola went on a 8-0 spree in the final minutes of the period to regain a double-digit lead at 43-31.

Evansville manufactured one final run in the fourth quarter, spurred by getting to the charity stripe. Trailing 45-33 with 9:16 left in regulation, the Aces went on a 5-0 run with all points coming from the free throw line to slice the Ramblers' lead to 45-38 with just over six minutes remaining on the clock. Following a 6-0 run from Loyola, Evansville fought to get back within single-digits on two occasions in the final minutes of the quarter, but could UE could draw no closer as the Ramblers grabbed the 60-47 win.

The Ramblers out-shot the Aces, 36.7% (22-60) to 29.1% (16-55), while Loyola also won the rebounding battle, 47-36.

UE closes-out its home slate on Sunday afternoon when the Aces host Valparaiso for Senior Day at 1 p.m. inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.

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