GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Indiana State 53, Loyola 32
Records: Indiana State (12-11, 6-6 MVC); Loyola (2-21, 1-11 MVC)
Location: Hulman Center - Terre Haute, Ind.
Stats: Box Score  | Season Stats 

In Short...
Indiana State used a stifling defensive effort, holding the Ramblers to only 24% shooting from the field, as it picked up a 53-32 victory over the Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team this afternoon at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute, Ind. The Sycamores climb back to .500 (6-6, 12-11 overall) in MVC play with the win, while the Ramblers drop to 1-11 in league action (2-21 overall).

How It Happened
Indiana State came out firing as it hit on each of its first four attempts from the field to build an early 9-2 lead with just over two minutes gone. Brandi Segars rattled home a three to cut the deficit to four, 9-5, with 6:19 to go as Loyola slowly chipped away. A driving score by Segars at the 4:00 mark ignited a quarter-ending 6-0 spurt that saw the Ramblers close to within one, 12-11, at the end of the first quarter.

As the case to start the game, the Sycamores caught fire to begin the second frame. A trio of early threes helped the hosts open up a 28-15 advantage with 2:51 to play in the half. Kaitlyn Williams, fresh off an impressive performance last weekend at Illinois State, connected from beyond the three-point arc to cut the margin to 28-18 shortly after. Tiara Wallace went coast-to-coast with time running down in the quarter to pull the Maroon & Gold to within eight, 28-20, before a split at the line by Rhagen Smith gave Indiana State a 29-20 halftime lead.

Offense was at a premium for both teams following the intermission. Williams answered a three by Tiara Webb with a triple of her own to slice the Indiana State advantage to 34-23 just under 90 seconds into the third quarter. The two teams would then go nearly four minutes without a point before Ashley Taia connected from distance as the Sycamores took a 41-24 lead into the fourth quarter.

Another Taia three stretched the Indiana State edge to 46-26 with 6:47 remaining in regulation. Segars converted on a post score a minute later to trim the margin to 48-29 but Taia would respond with her fourth and final triple of the afternoon as the Sycamores coasted to the final buzzer.

Inside The Box Score
- Segars and Wallace chipped in nine points apiece to pace the Loyola attack.
- Lauren Segars provided the Ramblers with a lift on the defensive end, coming away with a career-best six steals. The freshman's six takeaways were the most by a Rambler since Taylor Johnson recorded five steals against Indiana State back on Feb. 21, 2016.
- Taia finished with a game-high 18 points to lead Indiana State on the afternoon.

Up Next
Loyola opens up a stretch that sees it play four of its final six games within the friendly confines of Gentile Arena on Friday when it hosts Northern Iowa. Tip-off from Rogers Park is set for 7 p.m.