Box Score (PDF)

In Short…
Visiting Indiana State withstood a frantic fourth-quarter rally by Loyola University Chicago as it held on for a 73-65 win this evening inside Gentile Arena.  With the victory, Indiana State moves to 6-13 overall (4-4 MVC), while the Ramblers now sit at 3-16 (1-7 MVC).
 
How It Happened
Indiana State answered a bucket from Jessica Cerda with a 7-0 spurt as it opened up a 7-2 lead following an Ashli O'Neal layup with 7:44 remaining in the first quarter.  An Abby O'Connor post score trimmed the Sycamores' lead to 9-6 just over two minutes later but that would prove to be Loyola's final make from the field in the opening frame as Indiana State opened up a 13-8 advantage.
 
A layup from Kierra Isaiah ignited a 9-0 Sycamore run early on in the second quarter that pushed the margin to 22-9.  Back-to-back makes from Tiara Wallace and Katie Salmon, respectively, pulled Loyola back within nine, 22-13, with four minutes gone.  O'Neal drained a deep three to stretch the Indiana State lead to 31-17 before a pair of O'Connor free throws sent the Ramblers into the intermission trailing, 31-19.
 
The Sycamores came out of the locker room firing, scoring eight of the half's first 10 points en route to opening up a 39-21 lead.  Loyola would struggle to make a dent in its deficit for much of the third quarter, with the visitors taking a 56-38 edge into the game's final 10 minutes.
 
O'Connor knocked down a jumper just six seconds into the fourth quarter and provided the framework for a 9-0 surge as the Ramblers roared back to within nine, 56-47, following a long two by Ellie Rice.  Indiana State would respond, rattling off seven straight points to reestablish a double-digit lead, 63-47, but Loyola refused to go away.  Triples from Salmon and Cerda cut the margin to seven, 65-58, with only 51 seconds to play.  Indiana State went on to ice the game from the free throw line, connecting on each of its final eight attempts from the charity stripe, to hold on for its fourth conference win of the season.
 
Inside The Box Score
- O'Connor poured in a team-high 17 points to lead a quartet of Ramblers in double figures in scoring that also featured Salmon (16 points), Rice (13 points) and Cerda (10 points).
- Tonight marked the first time that Loyola has put four players in double figures since Feb. 26, 2017.
- The Ramblers' 27 fourth-quarter points were a high for any individual quarter this season.
- Wallace dished out a season-high six assists. 
- For the second time in the past three games, Loyola won the battle on the backboards as it outrebounded the Sycamores, 36-33.  
- O'Neal poured in a game-high 21 points to lead all scorers.
 
Up Next
Loyola completes the front half of its Valley schedule on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. when it plays host to Evansville.