Aryss Macktoon breaks a La Salle record in win over Loyola Chicago
Macktoon is now La Salle's all-time single-season steals leader. She wasn't the only Explorer to have a big day, as Ashleigh Connor scored a career high-tying 26 points in the regular season finale.
During La Salle’s last game against Loyola Chicago on Jan. 21, the Explorers led by nine entering the fourth quarter. It was all for naught, though, as the Ramblers stormed back for a four-point win.
Just over a month later, the teams faced off again. And again, La Salle held a nine-point lead entering the fourth quarter. But this time, the Ramblers couldn’t rally, and the Explorers won, 70-57. La Salle’s victory in the regular-season finale broke a tie for sixth place in the A-10 standings.
“I was really pleased that we turned the loss out there into a win here,” Explorers coach Mountain MacGillivray said. “Identical scores going into the fourth quarter. In this one, we found a way to extend the lead and come away with the win.”
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Statistical leaders
Redshirt junior guard Ashleigh Connor tied her career high with 26 points and added nine rebounds. Aryss Macktoon and Kiara Williams scored 11 points each, and Macktoon also had 11 rebounds and four steals. More on those steals later.
The Explorers (17-12, 10-8 A-10) shot 46.3% from the floor, while limiting Loyola Chicago to 35%, including just 17.4% from deep.
Alex-Anne Bessette and Alexus Mobley led the Ramblers (13-16, 9-9) with 13 points each. Mobley added 10 rebounds.
What we saw
Connor helped La Salle jump out to a 7-0 lead as part of her 12-point, two-assist first half.
“We are fighting for the highest-place seed we can get, and so trying to just leave it all out there,” Connor said. “Giving everything I got for these girls just because they deserve it.”
The Ramblers wouldn’t remain silent, though. Senior guard Kira Chivers (11 points) scored five points in 18 seconds to cut Loyola’s deficit to two, but Connor drilled a three-pointer to swing momentum back toward La Salle. Loyola got within three early in the second quarter, but despite a nearly two-minute drought from the field to close the first half, La Salle went into intermission up, 31-25.
Despite not scoring in the first half, Macktoon was all over the court for La Salle. She had six rebounds, three assists, and two steals through 20 minutes. The scoring began to click in the second half, though, and Loyola had no answers for her. Macktoon hit a three to give La Salle a 39-29 lead at the 6-minute, 29-second mark of the third quarter then combined with Connor to score 15 of their team’s 21 fourth-quarter points.
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Macktoon’s record
Macktoon knew she was approaching the La Salle single-season steals record of 95, set by Ashley Gale in 2010-11. But it was business as usual after the opening tip.
Macktoon entered Saturday’s game with 92 and tied the record early in the third quarter. Loyola Chicago trailed by nine with three minutes left and had a chance to keep the game close. Instead, Macktoon poked the ball away from Mobley for the record and derailed the chances of a Ramblers comeback.
Up next
La Salle locked up the No. 6 seed in the A-10 tournament and will play the winner of the No. 11 seed and No. 14 seed on Thursday (7:30 p.m., ESPN+).