Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Taylor Manuel led a group of three Ramblers to score in double figures as Loyola picked up a 63-49 victory over Evansville this evening at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind. With the win, Loyola's fourth straight and second consecutive to open league play, the Ramblers improve to 6-7 overall (2-0 Missouri Valley), while the Purple Aces slip to 1-13 (0-3 Missouri Valley).

Loyola wasted little time in jumping in front to begin the first quarter. A layup from Dakota Vann ignited a game-opening 11-2 run that was capped off by Brandi Segars bucket. Sasha Robinson drained a pair of free throws to pull the hosts back to within seven, 11-4, but Manuel answered right back on the Ramblers' ensuing possession with a post score that reestablished the nine-point edge, 13-4, with just over a minute remaining. Sara Dickey, who entered the night as the Purple Aces' leading scorer, connected on two attempts from the charity stripe in the dying seconds of the quarter to cut the Loyola lead to six, 15-9.

Back-to-back scores from Vann and Becca Smith to open the second frame quickly saw the Maroon & Gold establish its first double-digit lead of the night, 19-9, with 90 seconds gone. To its credit, Evansville refused to go away. A deep three from Dickey saw the margin reduced to five, 23-18, at the 4:09 mark. Following two free throws from Dickey that made it a one-possession game, 24-22, with 2:26 to go, Manuel scored six of the half's final eight points to help Loyola regain a six-point advantage, 30-24, heading into halftime.

The Ramblers finished the opening 20 minutes at an even 40% from the field (14-of-35) as they exploited their size advantage to the tune of a 26-8 edge in points in the paint. Manuel paced the attack with nine points to go along with a team-high seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Vann was close behind with six points of her own. Kenyia Johnson led the Purple Aces with eight points in the first half.

Following a quick bucket from Vann to open the third quarter, layups from Dickey, Robinson and Johnson had the Purple Aces threatening again as the Loyola lead was reduced to two, 32-30, with 7:50 remaining. That proved to be as close as Evansville would get for the remainder of the evening. Consecutive scores in the paint from Manuel set the tone for a 16-1 run that saw the Ramblers blow the game wide open as they opened up a 17-point edge, 48-31, on a breakaway layup by Becca Smith. A split at the free throw line from Camary Williams shaved the hosts' deficit down to 16 (50-34) at the end of the third quarter.

Loyola kept its foot on the gas to open the final frame, extinguishing any hope of a Purple Aces' rally. Two Manuel layups and a slashing finish from Taylor Johnson upped the lead to 20 (56-36) for the first time on the evening at the 7:15 mark. A three from Aaliyah Gaines pulled Evansville to within 16 (57-41) but a steal from Whisper Fisher setup a fast break score for Nieka Wheeler to make it 59-41 with 4:42 to go. The Purple Aces would get no closer than 12 for the remainder of the evening as Loyola secured it first 2-0 start to conference play since the 2002-03 season.

Manuel finished the night just two rebounds shy of a double-double, collecting eight caroms to go along with her scoring output. The redshirt junior also dished out four assists, tying for the team lead in the category with Johnson, blocked two shots and came away with three steals. Manuel was joined in double figures by Vann, who added a season-high 16 points, and Johnson (10 points, 8 rebounds). Dickey finished with a team-high 14 points for Evansville.

Loyola wraps up a season-long six-game road trip on Sunday when it takes Valley-leader Southern Illinois. Tip-off from the SIU Arena is set for 2 p.m.