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Loyola University Chicago Athletics

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Jessica Cerda

Women's Basketball

Loyola Travels To Iowa To Open Valley Play

Ramblers to take on Northern Iowa, Drake as part of challenging opening weekend

Game Notes vs. Northern Iowa | The Valley on ESPN3 vs. Northern Iowa | Live Stats vs. Northern Iowa | Game Notes vs. Drake (available by Saturday at 5 p.m.) | The Valley on ESPN3 vs. Drake | Live Stats vs. Drake

CHICAGO (December 27, 2017) – Coming off of a thrilling victory over UIC to wrap up non-conference play, Loyola University Chicago will begin its 18-game Missouri Valley Conference schedule this weekend with a pair of games in the state of Iowa.  Northern Iowa will provide the opposition in the Ramblers' Valley opener on Friday at 7 p.m. in Cedar Falls, Iowa, before Loyola makes the trip west to Des Moines, Iowa for a New Years Eve matinee with Drake at 2 p.m.   
 

Purple Reign
  • Northern Iowa, which earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament last season, closed non-conference play with a final record of 4-7.
  • The Panthers are fresh off of a thrilling 72-71 road victory over Kansas State back on December 21 in Manhattan, Kan. Kennedy Kirkpatrick poured in a game-high 24 points in the win. 
  • Kirkpatrick enters Valley play as the leading scorer for head coach Tanya Warren's club, averaging 12.7 points.  Megan Maahs also averages in double figures in scoring (10.7 ppg) and ranks as Northern Iowa's top rebounder (9.9 rpg).
 
Beware The Bite Of This Dog
  • Drake, who captured the Valley's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament last season, enters the weekend at 5-7.  The Bulldogs will play host to MVC newcomer Valparaiso on Friday evening at the Knapp Center.
  • Head coach Jenny Baranczyk's team finds itself in the midst of a three-game skid.  In their most recent action, Drake dropped a 79-66 decision to No. 23/21 Iowa last Thursday in Iowa City, Iowa.
  • The trio of Sara Rhine (16.6 ppg), Becca Hitnner (15.3 ppg) and Sammie Bachrodt (12.1 ppg) pace a Drake attack that averages an MVC-best 82.9 points.  Rhine shares the team lead in rebounding with Becca Jonas at 5.9 rpg

Up Next
  • Loyola returns to the friendly confines of Gentile Arena next weekend to host a pair of in-state rivals when it takes on Bradley (January 5) and Illinois State (January 7). 
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