Youngstown -- Senior forward Nikita LaFleur registered her seventh double-double of the season, but a strong final 10-minute effort by Loyola proved to be the difference as the Ramblers defeated the Penguins 56-42 on Saturday at the Beeghly Center. 
    LaFleur scored 10 points while grabbing 15 rebounds and recording her first double-double since Jan. 10 against Green Bay. It was her third double-double in Horizon League play this season.
    With the loss, YSU falls to 2-18 overall and 0-9 in the Horizon League while Loyola is now 6-13 and 1-8.
    A two-point tilt at halftime, Loyola outscored the Guins 36-24 in the second stanza, including 26-16 the last 10 minutes.
    The contest remained close throughout the opening 10 minutes of the second half. The game was tied at 22 following two Macey Nortey free throws at the 16:22 mark.
    Down six, the Guins pulled within 30-26 on Tiara Scott's jumper at the 10:24 mark. But Loyola scored the next 10 points in just over three-and-a-half minutes to lead 40-26 when Maggie McCloskey drained a 3-pointer. From that time on, the closest the Guins could get was 12 (47-35).
    For the game, Loyola shot 36.8 (21-of-57) percent, including 46.4 (13-of-28) in the second half. From 3-point range, Loyola was 6-of-9 in the second frame. YSU shot 34.8 percent making 16-of-46 shots. The Guins outrebounded the Ramblers 39-33.
    Scott led YSU with 11 points while Loyola had four players in double figures led by Keisha Collins' 13.
    In the first half, YSU shot 37.5 percent (9-of-24) while the Ramblers converted on 27.6 percent of their attempts (8-of-29). The Penguins won the battle of the boards 21-17 and had six of assists on nine baskets. 
    YSU scored eight of the contest's first 13 points before the Ramblers went on a 10-2 run to go ahead 15-10 with 7:44 left in the half on a fastbreak layup by Jessica Hylton. 
    The Guins were able to get within 17-16 on a Jaquetta Westley jumper with 3:44 left in the half, but that was as close as they could get the rest of the game. 
    Following Westley's basket, Loyola's Caitlin Pauley answered with a 3-pointer to make the score 20-16. Rachael Manual scored with 1:44 remaining to make the halftime score 20-18.
    The Penguins go back on the road for three straight beginning with a Thursday night contest at Green Bay. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. as the Guins start the second half of the league slate.