GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Indiana State 74, Loyola 71
Records: Indiana State (12-13, 8-6 MVC); Loyola (13-13, 9-5 MVC)
Location: Gentile Arena -- Chicago, Ill.
Stats: Box Score | Season Stats
Watch: Postgame Comments | Highlights

In Short...
Taylor Manuel scored 24 points to lead a group of three Ramblers in double figures but Indiana State closed the fourth quarter on an 8-2 run and held Loyola scoreless for the final 3:10 of regulation as it escaped Gentile Arena this afternoon with a 74-71 victory. With the win, the Sycamores move to 12-13 (8-6 Missouri Valley), while the Ramblers fall to 13-13 (9-6 Missouri Valley).

How It Happened
Manuel scored a quick five points, three of which came on an old-fashioned three-point play, to help Loyola out to an early 8-0 lead with only two minutes gone. An Ashley Taia triple helped the Sycamores pull to within one (10-9) with 6:09 remaining before Manuel, Taylor Johnson and Becca Smith all connected in rapid succession to make it 16-9 with 3:59 to go. A deep three by Jennifer Mackowiak off of an offensive rebound cut the Rambler lead to four, 22-18, after one.

A three-point play by Grace Goodhart reestablished a seven-point edge (25-18) for the Maroon & Gold just 26 seconds into the second quarter but Indiana State refused to go away. Kelsey Dirks connected on a mid-range jumper at the 5:35 mark to give the visitors their first lead of the afternoon, 31-30. The two teams traded the lead for the remainder of the half, with Indiana State taking a 40-38 edge into halftime.

Both sides struggled to gain separation coming out of the intermission. Rhagen Smith and Cierra Ceazer both connected from beyond the three-point arc in the middle stages of the frame to wipe out a pair of three-point Rambler leads. Ceazer would go on to put Indiana State back in front, 50-48, with 2:38 to play. Nieka Wheeler connected on her lone triple of the afternoon only seconds later to give Loyola the lead back, 51-50. Two Johnson makes from the free throw line gave the Maroon & Gold a 55-52 advantage heading to the fourth quarter.

Wheeler drained a pair of her own from the charity stripe at the 6:51 mark of the final frame to put Loyola up five, 63-58. Indiana State responded, retaking the lead, 66-65, on a Dirks bucket with 5:06 to go. Things continued to remain tight heading down the stretch. Manuel muscled up a shot in the paint with 3:10 remaining to edge the Ramblers in front by two, 71-69. The Sycamores would have a final answer as Joyea Marshall connected on two game-tying free throws before converting on a three-point play to help Indiana State surge ahead, 74-71, with only 1:20 to go. A last gasp three by Smith with eight seconds remaining rimmed out, giving the Sycamores their eighth Valley win of the season.

Inside The Box Score
- Manuel collected a game-high 11 boards to go along with her scoring output as the redshirt junior posted her eighth double-double of the season and second in as many games.
- Johnson wasn't far behind, adding 22 points of her own and a game-high five steals. The Frankfort, Ill. product moved past Claire Molloy (1992-95) for 10th place on Loyola's all-time scoring list and now has 1,261 career points to her name.
- Wheeler added 10 points, reaching double figures in scoring for a fifth consecutive contest.
- Ceazer led all scorers on the afternoon, pouring in 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting.
- Today's victory was the first by a visiting team in the series between Loyola and Indiana State since the Ramblers' move to the Valley prior to the 2013-14 season.

Up Next
Loyola opens up a crucial two-game road swing through the state of Iowa on Friday night when it visits Des Moines, Iowa to take on Drake. Tip-off from the Knapp Center is set for 7 p.m.