KNAPP CREEK, N.Y. (Interstat) — Loyola Chicago used a strong fourth quarter to edge Saint Bonaventure 58-55 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Reilly Center. The Ramblers, who led 27-20 at halftime, saw the Bonnies surge ahead with a 20-point third quarter. Loyola Chicago responded with a game-high 22 points in the final period to secure the road victory. Alexa Kinas led all scorers with 21 points for the Ramblers. Saint Bonaventure was paced by Brillana Boyd with 14 points and Laycee Drake with 18. Loyola Chicago improved to 13-14. Saint Bonaventure fell to 15-13. Attendance was 427.

KNAPP CREEK, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a game defined more by grit than grace, the Loyola Chicago women’s basketball team clawed back from a double-digit second-half deficit to edge Saint Bonaventure 58-55 in a tense Atlantic 10 Conference matchup Saturday at the Reilly Center. The victory, secured in the final seconds, snapped a three-game losing skid for the Ramblers and avenged a loss to the Bonnies just three weeks prior. Loyola Chicago, which improved to 13-14 overall, appeared headed for a fourth straight defeat after a disastrous third quarter. Leading 27-20 at halftime, the Ramblers’ offense went ice-cold, managing just nine points in the period. Saint Bonaventure, fueled by guard Laycee Drake, seized the opportunity. Drake scored 10 of her team-high 18 points in the quarter, spearheading a 20-9 run that gave the Bonnies a 40-36 lead heading into the final frame. The Ramblers’ response in the fourth quarter was decisive. They opened the period on a 12-5 burst, reclaiming a 48-45 lead with just over five minutes to play. The run was emblematic of the game’s overall struggle, built on defensive stops and capitalizing on Saint Bonaventure mistakes rather than fluid offense. The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the final 30 seconds. With Loyola clinging to a 56-55 lead after Saint Bonaventure’s Brillana Boyd split a pair of free throws, the Ramblers’ Alexus Mobley was fouled with one second remaining. Mobley missed both free throws, but teammate Alex-Anne Bessette secured the offensive rebound, was fouled, and calmly sank two free throws to extend the lead to three. Saint Bonaventure’s last chance, a rushed three-point attempt by Drake as time expired, was off the mark, sealing the Loyola victory. The statistical sheet reflected the defensive struggle. Both teams shot under 35% from the field. Loyola Chicago finished 19 of 51, while Saint Bonaventure was 18 of 53. From three-point range, the teams combined to shoot 7 of 29. The difference came at the free throw line, where Loyola, despite a 16-of-28 performance, attempted seven more than the Bonnies, who went 16 of 21. Turnovers were also pivotal. Saint Bonaventure committed 14, leading to 13 points for Loyola. The Ramblers gave the ball away 10 times, resulting in just seven points for the Bonnies. Loyola’s Alexa Kinas led all scorers with 21 points, adding six rebounds. Her backcourt mate, Alexus Mobley, provided crucial support with 13 points and five rebounds. For Saint Bonaventure, now 15-13, Drake’s 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks paced the effort. Boyd added 14 points and four rebounds. The game began with Loyola establishing early control, using a 7-0 run to build a 17-10 lead after the first quarter. The Ramblers extended that lead to seven by halftime, largely on the strength of their defense, which held the Bonnies to 10 points in each of the first two quarters. Saint Bonaventure’s third-quarter surge, which saw them outscore Loyola by 11, set the stage for the dramatic finish. But the Ramblers’ resilience in the fourth, outscoring the Bonnies 22-15, proved the difference. The win moves Loyola Chicago to 13-14 overall and provides momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Saint Bonaventure, which had won two of its last three, falls to 15-13. The announced attendance at the Reilly Center was 427. Loyola Chicago will host Dayton on Wednesday, while Saint Bonaventure travels to face George Washington.

Preview: Loyola Chicago Ramblers at Saint Bonaventure Bonnies KNAPP CREEK, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Saint Bonaventure women’s basketball team will seek to avenge a recent loss and protect its home court when it hosts Loyola Chicago on Saturday at the Reilly Center. The Bonnies (15-12) fell to the Ramblers (12-14) 60-52 in Chicago on Jan. 31. That result adds a layer of urgency to this Atlantic 10 Conference rematch as both teams look to build momentum for the final stretch of the regular season. Saint Bonaventure enters on a stronger recent trajectory, having won three of its last four games. That includes a 64-53 road victory at VCU on Feb. 14, powered by a 22-point, 8-rebound performance from standout guard Laycee Drake. Drake, who leads the Bonnies, was held to 12 points but dished out 7 assists in the first meeting with Loyola. Her all-around play will be central to the Bonnies’ attack. Loyola Chicago, conversely, looks to snap a three-game skid. The Ramblers are coming off a 55-67 home loss to George Mason on Wednesday. Guard Alex-Anne Bessette, the team’s key performer, scored 15 points in that defeat. Bessette torched the Bonnies for 18 points in the January win and has been a consistent offensive catalyst, including a 23-point outing at Saint Louis on Jan. 24. The matchup between Drake and Bessette will be critical. Both players are coming off high-minute, high-production performances and will be asked to carry significant offensive loads. Saint Bonaventure holds the overall edge in record and has performed better of late, but the Ramblers have proven they can defeat this opponent. Loyola’s victory last month provides a blueprint, but replicating it on the road at the Reilly Center presents a stiffer challenge. The Bonnies will aim to leverage their home-court advantage and recent form to split the season series. Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.