GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Loyola 73, Illinois State 61
Records: Loyola (13-12, 9-5 MVC); Illinois State (6-18, 4-9 MVC)
Location: Gentile Arena -- Chicago, Ill.
Stats: Box Score | Season Stats
Watch: Postgame Comments | Highlights

In Short...
Taylor Manuel eclipsed the 1,000 point mark for her career as Loyola raced past in-state rival Illinois State, 73-61, this evening inside Gentile Arena. The result sees Loyola climb back over the .500 mark to 13-12 overall (9-5 Missouri Valley), while the Redbirds drop to 6-18 (4-9 Missouri Valley).

How It Happened
Layups in rapid succession from Nieka Wheeler quickly helped Loyola jump out to a 4-0 lead with less than a minute gone. Following two Octavia Crump free throws, Taylor Johnson buried a mid-range jumper to ignite an 11-1 Rambler run that was capped off by another Wheeler score. Viria Livingston sank Illinois State's first bucket of the game with nearly nine minutes elapsed as Loyola rolled into the second quarter with a 19-5 lead.

A Katrina Beck triple pulled the Redbirds to within 11 (24-13) at the 8:07 mark of the second frame but Loyola answered right back with the game's next six points to open up a 17-point edge, 30-13, on another Johnson score. The Frankfort, Ill. native's fourth and final make of the half gave the Maroon & Gold a 34-19 lead heading to halftime.

Manuel's layup with 7:35 to play in the third quarter stretched the Loyola advantage to 19 (42-23) and further cemented the St. Louis, Mo. product's name in the annals of Rambler basketball history as she hit the 1,000-point mark for her career. The lead reached 20 (46-26) for the first time on the evening just over a minute later when Johnson connected again. Loyola would keep its foot on the gas for the remainder of the frame, pushing the margin to 23 (58-35) heading to the fourth quarter.

Wheeler gave the Ramblers their largest lead of the game, 64-40, on a layup off of a great find by Manuel with 7:14 to go. The Redbirds looked to battle their way back into the game from distance, knocking down six three-point shots in the final 4:41, but it proved to be too little, too late as Loyola picked up its ninth conference victory of the season.

Inside The Box Score
- Johnson finished with a game-high 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting and a 9-of-12 mark from the free throw line to lead a group of three Ramblers in double figures. The redshirt junior continued her ascent up the Loyola career scoring chart, moving past Tracy Hoffmann for 11th all-time.
- Wheeler wasn't far behind, pouring in 20 points as she tied her career high in the category.
- Manuel, who is the second Rambler to hit the 1,000-point mark for her career this season after Johnson accomplished the feat back on Dec. 28 at Rice, picked up her team-leading seventh double-double of the season with 10 rebounds and nearly recorded the second triple-double in program history with a game-high eight assists.
- Loyola's defense set the tone early on in the victory as it held Illinois State to only one field goal on 14 attempts in the first quarter (7.1%). The five points allowed by the Ramblers in the opening frame are a season low for a single quarter.
- The Ramblers were once again bolstered on the night by dominant post play, outscoring the Redbirds by a final margin of 44-12 in the painted area.
- After dropping its first eight contests to Illinois State, Loyola has now defeated its neighbor to the south in three straight meetings.

Up Next
Loyola wraps up a brief two-game homestand on Sunday afternoon when it hosts Indiana State in its "Play 4Kay" game. Tip-off from Rogers Park is slated for 2 p.m.