Girls Basketball: Anna Schueler comes through late for Loyola

Updated: December 10, 2011 8:34PM

Anna Schueler didn’t score many points Saturday, but the Loyola junior’s baskets were big ones. 

In a tight game with Evanston, Schueler hit a jumper to end the third quarter and then buried a three-pointer early in the fourth to give the No. 22 Ramblers some separation on their way to the 38-28 win in Wilmette.

“Everyone on our team can take a big shot, and everyone is capable of making a big shot at a big time,” said Schueler, who scored nine of her 11 points in the second half. 

Loyola (7-1) made only four baskets in the first half but took a 16-12 advantage at the break. Free throws by Sierra Clayborn and Erin Boothe got the Wildkits (5-5) within two with less than one minute to go in the third quarter. 

But Schueler switched the momentum with her basket in the quarter’s final seconds. She added the three-pointer a little more than a minute into the fourth to extend the lead to 27-21. 

Later in the quarter, Schueler got a rebound and went the length of the court for a layup and a 34-25 lead with 1:09 to go. Loyola secured the win by going 4-for-6 on free throws in the final minute. 

“She was huge,” Loyola coach Jeremy Schoenecker said of Schueler. “I think she turned the momentum even more in our favor with her shots.”

Michelle Ricolcol led Loyola with 14 points. Alecia Cooley scored a team-best 10 for the Wildkits. Sinclair Cunningham contributed nine points in the loss. 

With every win, Loyola, unranked in the preseason, continues to get noticed around the state. 

“We know we got the bull’s-eye on our back now, but I think the girls like it,” Schoenecker said. “I think that fueled them at the beginning of the year. The girls relish and want to play in big games.”

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