GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Drake 81, Loyola 65
Records: Drake (13-6, 7-2 MVC); Loyola (10-10, 6-3 MVC)
Location: Gentile Arena -- Chicago, Ill.
Stats: Box Score | Season Stats
Watch: Postgame Comments | Highlights | Photo Gallery

In Short...
Loyola was unable to make an early 13-point lead hold up this afternoon as visiting Drake came back to defeat the Ramblers, 81-65, at Gentile Arena. With the win, the Bulldogs move to 14-6 overall (7-2 Missouri Valley), while the Ramblers fall back to the .500 mark at 10-10 (6-3 Missouri Valley).

How It Happened
Following a pair of Lizzy Wendell free throws that gave Drake a 4-2 lead with just under a minute gone, Dakota Vann drained a three to put Loyola in front, 5-4, and sparked a 7-0 Rambler run that was capped off by a Taylor Manuel post score. A rainbow three from Becca Smith made it an eight-point game, 16-8, with 2:15 to go as Loyola held the Bulldogs scoreless for the final 2:47 of the first quarter en route to taking a 21-8 lead after one.

Drake slowly began to chip away as the second quarter progressed. A split at the line by Maddy Dean cut the margin to nine, 23-14, but was quickly answered by Vann with a baseline drive that made it 25-14. Wendell's first triple of the afternoon at the 6:06 mark ignited a 15-2 run for the Bulldogs that saw them race into halftime up two, 29-27.

Another Wendell trey 90 seconds into the third quarter widened the Drake lead to six, 34-28. Loyola continued to stay within striking distance as it pulled back to within two, 40-38, on a turnaround score by Manuel with 4:51 to go. Wendell responded with a bucket on Drake's next trip down the floor to spark a 7-0 run that would ultimately see the Bulldogs take a 10-point lead, 56-46, into the fourth.

A long two from Sammie Bachrodt to open the scoring in the final frame gave Drake its largest lead of the afternoon to that point, 58-46, at the 9:00 mark. Loyola continued to hang tough. A three from Grace Goodhart that was followed by a fast break score from Dakota Vann got the Ramblers to within seven, 61-54, with 7:13 to go. Four straight makes at the charity stripe by Dean pushed the Bulldog lead back into double figures, 65-54, less than a minute later as Loyola could get no closer than nine before time ran out.

Inside The Box Score
- Manuel paced the attack for the Ramblers on the afternoon, pouring in 21 points to go along with seven rebounds, an assist, three blocks and a steal. She was joined in double figures by Wheeler (14 points), who also collected six caroms, and Vann (11 points).
- Despite a tough day on the offensive end that saw her finish with four points, Taylor Johnson dished out a game-high nine assists, just one short of her career high in the category.
- Drake's eight points in the first quarter were the second fewest allowed by the Ramblers in a single quarter this season.
- After being held to only 25% shooting (3-of-12) in the opening frame, Drake shot at just under a 56% clip (25-of-45) to finish the game at 49% (28-of-57) from the field.
- Today's victory was Drake's fourth consecutive over the Ramblers and third straight in Chicago.

Up Next
Loyola continues its current homestand on Friday night when it hosts in-state rival Southern Illinois. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. from inside Gentile Arena.