BALTIMORE (Interstat) — In a grinding Patriot League contest defined by defensive pressure and offensive struggles, the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds used a decisive third-quarter surge to pull away from the Colgate Raiders for a 58-49 victory in women’s basketball on Sunday at Reitz Arena.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 715, saw both teams labor to find consistent scoring, but the Greyhounds’ efficiency inside and ability to capitalize on Colgate’s cold spells proved the difference. Loyola Maryland improved to 12-15 overall, while Colgate fell to 6-20.

The first half was a low-scoring affair characterized by missed shots and physical play. Colgate started quickly, with Amarah Streiff hitting a pair of early three-pointers, but the Raiders’ offense soon stalled. The Greyhounds, led by the interior presence of Lex Therien and timely baskets from Sydney Bass, methodically built a lead. Colgate managed only six points in the second quarter, shooting a frigid 2-for-15 from the floor in the period, and went into halftime trailing 29-20.

The most critical stretch of the game came early in the third quarter. After Colgate’s Ella Meabon opened the half with a free throw to cut the deficit to eight, Loyola Maryland unleashed a 13-2 run over the next four minutes to seize control. The run was fueled by Bass, who connected on two three-pointers, and Therien, who continued to score effectively in the paint. Bass’s second three of the burst, assisted by Kailey Kalet with 5:48 left in the quarter, pushed the Greyhounds’ lead to 39-23, their largest of the game to that point.

Colgate showed resilience, answering with a 9-2 run of its own, capped by a Taye Matthews three-pointer, to close within 41-32. However, the Raiders could never sustain momentum long enough to truly threaten. Every time Colgate strung together a few baskets, Loyola Maryland answered, often through Therien or Koi Sims in the lane. The Greyhounds outscored Colgate 18-15 in the third to take a 47-35 lead into the final period.

The Raiders made one last push in the fourth quarter. Trailing 52-40, Colgate’s Streiff and Madison Schiller hit consecutive three-pointers in a 90-second span to cut the lead to 52-46 with 6:43 remaining, forcing a Loyola Maryland timeout. Out of the stoppage, the Greyhounds tightened their defense. Colgate’s next five possessions resulted in two turnovers and three missed shots, allowing Loyola Maryland to rebuild its cushion. A jumper by Therien and a layup from Sims in the final minutes sealed the outcome.

Statistical disparities told the story. Loyola Maryland dominated points in the paint, 34-18, and shot 47.1% from the field compared to Colgate’s 32.7%. The Greyhounds also scored 13 points off Colgate’s 10 turnovers, while the Raiders managed only six points off Loyola’s giveaways. Both teams struggled at the free-throw line, with Loyola Maryland making 5 of 12 and Colgate converting just 7 of 13.

Therien, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Marlton, New Jersey, led all scorers with 14 points, adding six rebounds and three assists in just 25 minutes. Sims, from Glen Burnie, Maryland, contributed nine points and five rebounds, while Bass finished with 11 points, all crucial, including three three-pointers.

For Colgate, Meabon, a sophomore guard from Fairport, New York, led the way with 16 points and six rebounds in 34 minutes. Streiff added 12 points, all from beyond the arc. The Raiders’ offense sputtered, posting an offensive rating of just 85.7 points per 100 possessions.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Loyola Maryland over Colgate, having also won 49-47 in Hamilton, New York, on Jan. 14. Entering the game, statistical models gave the Greyhounds a 64.5% probability to win.

Loyola Maryland will host Holy Cross next Saturday, while Colgate returns home to face Navy.