BALTIMORE (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and defensive stands, the Loyola Maryland Greyhounds used a decisive third-quarter surge to overcome a halftime deficit and defeat the Lafayette Leopards 65-58 in a Patriot League women’s basketball contest Wednesday night at Reitz Arena.

The victory improved Loyola Maryland to 11-13 overall, while Lafayette fell to 8-16. The game, played before an intimate crowd of 225, was a rematch of a Jan. 3 meeting won by Lafayette, 63-52.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the third quarter. After a tightly contested first half that saw Loyola Maryland take an early lead before Lafayette clawed back to trail by just one point, 28-27, at the break, the Greyhounds seized control after halftime. They erupted for 21 points in the period, their highest-scoring quarter of the night, while holding Lafayette to 15.

The Greyhounds’ offense found its rhythm from beyond the arc during this stretch. Sydney Bass, who finished with 12 points, and Amandine Amorich, who added 14, connected on crucial three-pointers that stretched the Lafayette defense. Meanwhile, Lex Therien, Loyola Maryland’s leading scorer with 16 points, provided consistent interior scoring. This offensive burst transformed a narrow one-point advantage into a 49-42 lead heading into the final quarter, a margin Lafayette could never fully erase.

Lafayette’s effort was led by the backcourt duo of Teresa Kiewiet and Talia Zurinskas. Kiewiet scored a team-high 14 points and added three assists, while Zurinskas played a game-high 37 minutes, contributing 15 points and four assists. The Leopards also received a significant defensive presence from 6-foot-3 forward Maddison Krug, who recorded four blocks and 10 points.

Despite the loss, Lafayette’s defense was active, tallying eight blocks and six steals compared to Loyola Maryland’s three blocks and five steals. However, the Greyhounds won key statistical battles, most notably from three-point range. Loyola Maryland shot a blistering 9 for 16 from deep, a 56.3 percent clip, while Lafayette managed just 5 of 19, or 26.3 percent. That 12-point disparity from long distance proved insurmountable on a night where the overall field goal percentages were comparable.

The Greyhounds also capitalized on second chances, securing nine offensive rebounds to Lafayette’s four, which led to a 28-26 edge in points in the paint. Efficiency metrics underscored the difference, as Loyola Maryland posted an offensive rating of 96.8 points per 100 possessions, outpacing Lafayette’s 92.0.

Lafayette opened the game competitively, trailing 18-15 after a first quarter that featured seven lead changes. The Leopards’ defense stiffened in the second, holding the Greyhounds to just 10 points to draw within one at halftime. But the third-quarter explosion by Loyola Maryland created a cushion that held up throughout a tense fourth quarter. Lafayette cut the deficit to four points on multiple occasions, the last at 58-54 with just over six minutes to play, but each time Loyola Maryland answered. A driving layup by Koi Sims, who had six points, and a critical layup from Therien off an Olivia Shaughnessy assist pushed the lead back to eight with under five minutes remaining, effectively sealing the outcome.

The game concluded a season series split between the two teams. According to the Interstat ELO system, Loyola Maryland entered the game with a 71.5 percent probability to win.

Lafayette looks to rebound on Saturday when it hosts rival Lehigh. Loyola Maryland continues its conference schedule with a road game at Holy Cross, also on Saturday.