GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Loyola 59, Chicago State 54
Records: Loyola (1-8); Chicago State (0-9)
Location: Gentile Arena -- Chicago, Ill.
Stats: Box Score  | Season Stats 

In Short…
Brandi Segars scored eight of her career-high 14 points in the fourth quarter as the Loyola University Chicago women’s basketball team came from behind to defeat Chicago State, 59-54, this afternoon inside Gentile Arena. With the win, Loyola’s first of the season, the Ramblers move to 1-8 overall, while the Cougars fall to 0-9.

Coach Achter’s Thoughts…
“It feels great to get our first win. I’m really pleased for our kids. They showed some resiliency and they know a little bit more about what it means to fight after today. More than anything, I’m really proud of the fight they showed.”

How It Happened
Kaitlyn Williams connected on a pair of early threes as Loyola jumped in front, 8-4, with just under three minutes gone in the first quarter. A Jessica Cerda triple at the 4:26 mark capped off a 7-0 spurt from the visitors that saw Chicago State move in front, 11-8. The Maroon & Gold answered back with a run of its own, rattling off nine unanswered points, the last two of which came on a Segars jumper, to open up a 17-11 edge at the end of the first quarter.

Threes from Cailin Nix and Cerda helped Chicago State knot the game up at 19-19 with 7:54 remaining in the second quarter. Loyola edged back in front by six, 27-21, on a Lee Williams layup. The Cougars scored the half’s final five points, highlighted by Cerda’s third triple, to cut the Ramblers’ lead to 27-26 at the intermission.

Another Williams three pushed the Loyola advantage to six, 34-28, at the 7:12 mark of the third quarter. Chicago State continued to hang tough, pulling to within two, 34-32, on a driving score by Nix just over a minute later. Two makes by Kiana Coomber from the free throw line reestablished a five-point lead for the Ramblers, 37-32, with 4:26 to go. The visitors finished the frame with a flourish, scoring seven straight points, to take a slim 42-41 lead into the fourth quarter.

Back-to-back scores by Cerda and Nix saw Chicago State open up a 46-41 lead with 60 seconds gone in the fourth quarter. With the Cougar lead sitting at 48-44 following another Nix bucket, Segars erupted for eight straight points to vault Loyola in front, 52-48, with 4:18 to go. Citiana Negatu answered a Kaylee Allen three with a trey of her own to give Loyola its largest lead of the afternoon, 57-50, at the 2:08 mark. Milwaukee closed to within three, 57-54, with 52 seconds remaining but a key defensive stop shortly after and a pair of Coomber free throws sealed Loyola’s first victory of the season.

Inside The Box Score
- Along with being Loyola’s first win of the season, today’s victory is also the first in the career of first-year Rambler head coach Kate Achter.
- Segars collected six rebounds, dished out an assist and recorded a block to go along with her career-best scoring output.
- Also reaching double figures today for the Ramblers were Kaitlyn Williams (13 points) and Coomber (10 points). Williams knocked down a team-best three triples, her fifth consecutive multi-three game, while Coomber came up big from the free throw line, making seven of eight attempts.
- Salmon was a force on the glass for the Ramblers this afternoon as she came down with a career-best 12 rebounds and fell only two points shy of a double-double, adding eight points.
- Freshman Tiara Wallace came off the bench to finish with a team-high four assists as all eight Ramblers that saw action recorded at least one helper on the day.
- Cerda and Nix paced the attack for Chicago State as each finished with 22 points.

Up Next
Loyola takes a week off for final exams before returning to action on Sunday, Dec. 18 when it welcomes city-rival No. 16/15 DePaul to Rogers Park. Tip-off from inside Gentile Arena is set for 2 p.m.