Late free throws from sophomore forward Abby O’Connor were the difference as the Loyola women’s basketball team (9-7, 3-2) held on to defeat Indiana State University 56-54 at Gentile Arena Sunday afternoon.
O’Connor led Loyola with 18 points, including six straight free throws in the last 20 seconds of regulation. She now leads the Missouri Valley Conference in free-throw percentage, converting 43 of her 45 attempts from the strip this year — a 95.6 percent clip. First-year guard Janae Gonzales added 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting, while first-year forward Allison Day scored 10 points and tied her season high with nine rebounds.