GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Southern Illinois 73, Loyola 64
Records: Southern Illinois (20-11, 12-6 MVC); Loyola (14-16, 10-8 MVC)
Location: iWireless Center -- Moline, Ill.
Stats: Box Score | Season Stats

In Short...
Dakota Vann scored a season-high 17 points to lead a group of three Ramblers in double figures but fifth-seeded Loyola was unable to hold on to a nine-point third-quarter lead as it fell to fourth-seeded Southern Illinois, 73-64, in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at the iWireless Center in Moline, Ill. The Salukis move to 20-11 (12-6 Missouri Valley), while the Ramblers wrap up the regular season at 14-16 (10-8 Missouri Valley).

How It Happened
Vann scored the first two of her 17 points just over a minute into the game off of a great find by Taylor Manuel to get Loyola on the board first, 2-0. Kylie Giebelhausen responded with seven of the game's next nine points to give the Salukis a 7-4 edge with 5:32 to go. Triples from Vann and Grace Goodhart helped spark a surge for the Maroon & Gold that saw it take a 15-12 lead after one.

Southern Illinois used a 10-3 spurt to open the second frame to move in front by four, 22-18. Loyola used more deep shooting to find its way back in front as back-to-back triples by Vann and Taylor Johnson saw it regain the lead, 24-22, at the 3:37 mark. Following two Dyana Pierre free throws that edged the Salukis out to a 27-26 advantage, Johnson converted on a contested layup ahead of a Vann steal and score that put Loyola up three, 30-27, heading into halftime.

Loyola kept its foot on the gas coming out of the locker room. An old-fashioned three-point play by Nieka Wheeler and another Johnson trey saw the Rambler lead balloon to nine, 36-27, with 7:20 to go. With the advantage at eight, 42-34, Cartesha Macklin connected on a mid-range jumper to ignite a 12-3 Saluki run that saw the Salukis move in front, 46-45, on a Macklin "and-one" after three.

Manuel answered a Giebelhausen three early in the fourth to cut the Southern Illinois lead to two, 49-47, with 9:29 remaining. The Salukis continued to operate efficiently on the offensive end as the quarter rolled on, taking a nine-point lead, 58-49, on a jumper by Kim Nebo at the 7:15 mark. Loyola refused to go quietly as time began to tick away. Goodhart buried another three just ahead of the 5:00 mark to get the Ramblers within four, 64-60. Consecutive scores from Pierre and Macklin bumped the Southern Illinois lead back up to eight, 68-60, with 2:00 to go. The Salukis went on to ice the game from the free throw line to book a spot in Saturday's semifinals.

Inside The Box Score
- Vann's 17-point scoring output was one point better than the Oklahoma City, Okla. product's previous season-high of 16 points, set back on Jan. 8 at Evansville.
- She was joined in double figures on the afternoon by Manuel (16 points) and Johnson (14 points).
- Manuel fell just one rebound shy of her tenth double-double of the season as she collected nine caroms to go along with five assists and two blocks.
- Johnson was active on both ends of the floor as well, finishing with six rebounds, five assists, a block and three steals to go along with her scoring output.
- Loyola knocked down six shots from beyond the three-point arc today, more than doubling its per game average in the category.
- Rishonda Napier led a balanced Southern Illinois attack that featured four Salukis to score in double figures with a game-high 20 points.