BALTIMORE (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined more by missed opportunities than made shots, Loyola Maryland edged Bucknell 49-46 in a Patriot League women’s basketball game Saturday at Reitz Arena.

The contest, played before an announced crowd of 206, saw both teams combine for more turnovers (33) than field goals (36) and neither shoot above 35% from the floor. The Greyhounds improved to 6-9 overall, while the Bison fell to 4-11.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the final 15 seconds, a sequence that encapsulated the entire afternoon. With Loyola Maryland clinging to a 48-46 lead after splitting a pair of free throws, Bucknell had a final possession to tie or win. The Bison inbounded to Reese Zemitis, whose potential game-tying 3-point attempt was blocked by Loyola’s Amandine Amorich with five seconds remaining. Bucknell retained possession, but Zemitis’s second 3-point try as time expired missed the mark, sealing the narrow victory for the Greyhounds.

The game was a grind from the outset, with the first quarter ending tied at 15. Loyola Maryland built a slim 28-24 halftime lead, largely on the strength of its interior play, outscoring Bucknell 32-18 in the paint for the game. The Greyhounds’ defense was also a factor, recording nine steals and six blocks.

Lex Therien, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Marlton, New Jersey, was the primary offensive engine for Loyola Maryland. She scored a game-high 22 points, with 18 coming in the paint or at the free-throw line, and added two assists. Her consistent production inside provided a crucial counterpoint to the teams’ collective shooting woes. Amorich, a junior from Montpellier, France, contributed eight points, three assists and the critical late block.

Bucknell was led by Desirae Ashton, a junior from Fredericksburg, Virginia, who came off the bench to score 10 points and record a block. Guard Kaila Richards of Far Rockaway, New York, added eight points. The Bison struggled offensively, posting an offensive rating of just 68.9 points per 100 possessions and connecting on only 5 of 19 attempts from 3-point range.

Loyola Maryland’s ability to capitalize slightly better on its chances proved the difference. The Greyhounds shot 41.3% from the field to Bucknell’s 34.7% and assisted on nine of their 19 made baskets. Despite committing 17 turnovers, one more than Bucknell, Loyola Maryland managed a more efficient offensive output with an offensive rating of 77.6.

The win gives Loyola Maryland a positive start to the conference slate, while Bucknell continues to search for consistency after dropping its third straight game. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 24.

Bucknell next hosts Lafayette on Wednesday. Loyola Maryland travels to face Colgate on the same night.