Box Score

ELMHURST, Ill. - The Elmhurst College women's basketball team survived a second-half rally to edge Loras College 69-67. With the victory, Elmhurst closed out the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 7-4 record.

Elmhurst jumped all over Loras (6-6) in the first half while racing out to a 38-20 halftime lead. The Bluejays missed just eight shots in the opening 20 minutes (17-of-25) while shooting 68.0 percent from the field.

Loras battled back in the second half with some clutch shooting. After struggling in the first half, Loras caught fire in the second half, shooting 53.3 percent from the floor. The Duhawks were red hot from beyond the arc, hitting 9-of-12 attempts. Loras knotted the score with six minutes to play and the Duhawks built a 67-63 lead with 3:13 to play after Sarah Pillon splashed home a jumper.

Kelsey Monroe trimmed the Duhawks lead down to just one after she hit a jump shot and was fouled in the process. After a Loras turnover, Megan Ney hit a pair of free throws to give Elmhurst a 68-67 lead with two minutes left on the clock.

Loras turned the ball over on each of its next possessions, but Elmhurst could not expand its slim advantage. After Elmhurst missed a free throw with 27 seconds left, Loras had a chance to win the game. Lindsay Bava drove to the bucket but Ney rejected her lay-up attempt with Monroe grabbing the loose ball. Lyndsie Long split a pair of free throws with seven ticks left on the clock to give Elmhurst a 69-67 advantage. Ney was able to steal a pass from Loras in the closing seconds to preserve the win for Elmhurst.

After taking a four-point lead with three minutes left, Loras missed its next three shots while committing five turnovers down the stretch.

Elmhurst finished the game shooting 51.9 percent from the floor (28-of-54), including 33.3 percent (5-of-15) from long range. 

Loras shot 41.8 percent (23-of-55) from the floor, including 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from downtown. The Duhawks had a slim 34-33 rebounding advantage.

Long led all scorers with 29 points while shooting 12-of-19 from the floor. She added six rebounds in the win for the Bluejays. Meghan Merklein added 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds in the win. Rashida Joiner chipped in with eight points and four assists. Monroe totaled five points and six assists. 

Bava and Pillon scored 15 points apiece to pace Loras in the loss. Brit Kent came off the bench to score 10 for the Duhawks.

Elmhurst opens CCIW play by travelling to Millikin University on Tuesday, January 5.