GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Missouri State 73, Loyola 62
Records: Missouri State (11-7, 4-2 MVC); Loyola (8-8, 4-1 MVC)
Location: Gentile Arena -- Chicago, Ill.
Stats: Box Score | Season Stats
Watch: Postgame Comments | Highlights

In Short...
Loyola nearly overcame a 25-point first-half deficit but was unable to complete the comeback as it fell to visiting Missouri State today, 73-62, inside Gentile Arena. With the win, the Lady Bears improve to 11-7 overall (4-2 Missouri Valley), while the Ramblers see their six-game winning streak come to end as they fall to 8-8 (4-1 Missouri Valley).

How It Happened
Missouri State, picked as the preseason Valley favorite back in late October, jumped all over Loyola from the onset in the first quarter as it raced out to a 12-1 lead. Grace Goodhart's first triple of the day cut the lead back down to eight, 12-4, and snapped a game-opening 5:31 stretch without a made basket for the Maroon & Gold. The Lady Bears didn't let up though, taking a 21-8 lead at the end of one.

Loyola's offensive struggles continued early in the second frame as the Missouri State lead ballooned to 25 (34-9) on a Kenzie Williams layup at the 5:44 mark. A pair of Taylor Johnson free throws with just under three minutes remaining helped spark an 11-2 run to end the half for Loyola that saw it slice the deficit to 39-23.

Following a three by Audrey Holt to open the third quarter, Loyola used a 10-1 run to pull all the way back to within 10 (43-33) with 7:27 to go. The Ramblers kept chipping away, cutting the margin to five, 45-40, on a Taylor Manuel jumper just two minutes later. Missouri State answered back with a 7-0 run that saw it push its lead back into double digits, 52-40, as it took a 58-47 edge into the fourth quarter.

The Ramblers again began the process of battling back to start the final frame. A Manuel layup off a great feed from Johnson sliced the deficit to eight, 63-55, at the 7:24 mark. Loyola would get to within seven on a pair of different occasions shortly thereafter but was unable to claw any closer before time ran out.

Inside The Box Score
- After shooting only 27% (6-of-22) in the first half, Loyola showed marked improvement following halftime as it operated at a 44% clip (12-of-27) to finish the afternoon at just under 37% (18-of-49) from the field.
- The Rambler defense also stepped up in the second half, holding Missouri State to only 33% shooting (9-of-27) after the Bears shot a blistering 50% (13-of-26) in the opening stanza.
- Two of Loyola's freshmen led the way on the offensive end. Goodhart chipped in a season-high 16 points, while Dakota Vann added 12 of her own and went a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the three-point arc.
- Manuel chipped in 10 points, marking the seventh straight game that the St. Louis, Mo. product has reached double figures in scoring.
- Officials were active on both ends of the floor as the two teams combined for 53 fouls and shot a total of 59 free throws.

Up Next
Loyola goes back out on the road at the end of the week as it heads to Terre Haute, Ind. to take on Indiana State. Tip-off from the Hulman Center is set for 6:05 p.m. (CT) on Friday evening.