Breakers Squeak By Hamilton For Cross Conference Win

Loyola faced their biggest test of the season Saturday as the Breakers hosted the Hamilton Lady Broncs in a cross conference game that resulted in a 50-41 Loyola win.

Coming off a big road win over Deer Lodge on Friday night the Breakers used that momentum going into Saturdays game against the Hamilton Broncs. Loyola came out shooting in the first quarter, giving themselves a slight lead, but Hamilton would not be out matched and regained ownership of the score by the end of the first quarter. By the time the second quarter started the teams had settled into their grove with the Broncs out scoring the Breakers 13-11 when the half time break came.

The Breakers had the ball to start the third quarter down five points to Hamilton and began their methodical climb back into the game. It was the freshman phenom Lani Walker who led the charge in the third quarter, scoring six of her 21 overall points off her signature floater. Team leader Sydney Koppang was silent in the points column in the first half, but came out swinging in the second as she would go two for three from the three point line, the first sparking a Breaker run to take the lead late in the third.

Leading the Broncs 40-37 to open the fourth quarter Loyola played smart basketball by rotating the ball on the perimeter and only taking high percentage shots. The Breakers took the three point lead they had to start the final frame and turned it into a 10 point lead at one point, forcing turnovers with their end bound defense to secure the win.