GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Loyola 67, Evansville 54
Records: Loyola (12-10, 8-3 MVC); Evansville (2-20, 1-10 MVC)
Location: Gentile Arena -- Chicago, Ill.
Stats: Box Score | Season Stats
Watch: Postgame Comments | Highlights

In Short...
Loyola closed the fourth quarter on a 23-5 run to fend off Evansville this afternoon, 67-54, at Gentile Arena. With the win, Loyola's fourth in its last five games, the Ramblers move to 12-10 overall (8-3 Missouri Valley), while the Purple Aces now sit at 2-20 (1-10 Missouri Valley).

How It Happened
Consecutive layups from Taylor Manuel and Nieka Wheeler to open the game gave Loyola an early 4-0 lead with two minutes gone. Evansville kept things close as the quarter rolled on, closing to within two, 10-8, on a three by Jordan Campbell. An old-fashioned three-point play by Taylor Johnson and another Wheeler score sent Loyola racing into the second quarter up seven, 15-8.

Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference selection Sara Dickey looked to spark a surge for the visitors as she knocked down a pair of triples, the second of which cut the margin to one, 17-16, at the 8:10 mark. A corner three by Camille Coleman gave Evansville its first lead of the afternoon, 21-19, with 6:12 remaining before another Dickey trey stretched the Purple Aces' lead to five, 26-21, just over two minutes later. Loyola found its touch from distance shortly after as three-point baskets from Johnson and Grace Goodhart helped the Ramblers open up a 34-31 lead at halftime.

A pair of Johnson makes from the charity stripe saw the Ramblers increase their lead to nine, 40-31, with 7:39 to go in the third quarter. Evansville refused to go away though, retaking the lead, 41-40, on another Dickey make from beyond the three-point arc with 4:50 remaining. An acrobatic score from Johnson put Loyola back on top, 42-41, only seconds later but Evansville continued to battle, taking a 46-44 after three.

Following another Dickey connection from distance to open the fourth quarter, Wheeler buried a triple of her own to pull the Ramblers back to within two, 49-47, with 7:59 to go. Manuel poured in Loyola's next five points, the last three of which came on a three-point play, to nudge the Maroon & Gold back in front, 52-50, at the 5:22 mark. Back-to-back threes from Goodhart saw the lead balloon to eight, 58-50, with 4:46 to go. A Coleman bucket out of a timeout cut the Evansville deficit down to six, 58-52, before Manuel answered with seven of the game's next nine points to extinguish any hope of a Purple Aces comeback.

Inside The Box Score
- The trio of Manuel (19 points), Johnson (18 points) and Wheeler (17 points) accounted for just over 80% of Loyola's offensive output this afternoon.
- Manuel also collected 11 rebounds in the win, notching her sixth double-double of the season and 14th of her career.
- Johnson flirted with only the second triple-double in program history, collecting nine rebounds and dishing out seven assists to go along with her scoring output. The Frankfort, Ill. product also came away with a game-high four steals.
- For the second time in as many games, Loyola dominated the battle in the painted area, prevailing on the afternoon by a final count of 36-6. The six points allowed were a season low for the Ramblers.
- Today's victory was Loyola's third straight over the Purple Aces, evening the series between the two at 3-3 since the Ramblers' move to the Valley prior to the 2013-14 season.

Up Next
With a 3-1 homestand now complete, Loyola will turn its attention to a showdown with preseason league favorite Missouri State on Friday night. Tip-off from the JQH Arena in Springfield, Mo. is slated for 7:05 p.m.