DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – In their final home game before the Christmas break, the Loras women's basketball team took care of business on Wednesday night, handing Elmhurst College an 82-69 defeat in the Athletic & Wellness Center. Senior Victoria May led all players with 23 points and 10 rebounds, her first double-double of the 2014-15 season.

Loras (5-2) opened up with a 10-5 run over the first five minutes of play, highlighted by a fastbreak layup by junior Kaitlin Phillips with 18:01 to go in the first half. Their lead would extend to as many as eight at 28-20 before Elmhurst (3-3) reeled the game back in and eventually taking the lead with 3:20 remaining. With the first half winding down, May and company outscored the Bluejays 10-2 to carry a 43-36 advantage into the locker room.

Loras carried their momentum over into the second half, extending their lead to as many as 19.  At that point, the Bluejays began chipping away and pounded the ball into their posts. Elmhurst capitalized on a few and-one opportunities with Loras' posts recording six fouls in the second half, to cut the Duhawks lead to 12. 

Sophomores Terese McMahon and Kathleen Cabrera stepped up their play on the defensive side, tallying two steals each in the final 20 minutes of play to hold off Elmhurst's comeback attempt. Their efforts on the defensive side were cashed in on offense by May and sophomore Lori Obendorf, to keep Loras in front for good.