Box Score (PDF)

In Short…
Loyola University Chicago used a second-quarter surge to create separation and never looked back as it defeated Evansville, 82-63, this afternoon inside Gentile Arena.  Today's result sees the Ramblers improve to 4-16 (2-7 MVC), while the Purple Aces slip to 3-17 (0-9 MVC).
 
How It Happened
Jessica Cerda connected on her first three of the day with just over a minute and a half gone to knot the score up at 5-5.  A layup by Kailyn Strawbridge followed by an old-fashioned three-point play from Katie Salmon sent Loyola in front, 10-5, with 6:23 to play.  Macie Lively drained a three to regain the lead for the visitors, 15-14.  Tiara Wallace converted on a three-point of her own in the frame's final minute to give the Ramblers a 19-17 lead.
 
Loyola jumped all over the Purple Aces from the onset in the second quarter.  Abby O'Connor converted inside before Cerda buried a three to stretch the Loyola edge to 24-17 and force an Evansville timeout at the 8:12 mark.  Eight straight points from Cerda, six of which came from distance, upped the margin to 32-19 with four minutes remaining.  Ellie Rice drained a pair of threes shortly after as Loyola raced into halftime on top, 43-21.
 
Both sides operated at an efficient clip to begin the second half, combining to shoot a blistering 57 percent from the field in the third quarter.  Scores on consecutive trips from O'Connor and Salmon pushed the Rambler lead to 53-29 with 4:10 to go.  Kayla Casteel hit on a pair of threes in the closing minute of the quarter to pull Evansville to within 64-45 heading into the final 10 minutes of regulation.
 
Makes by Brandi Segars and Alexis Meyer, respectively, again pushed the Loyola lead over the 20-point mark, 68-45, with eight minutes remaining.  Evansville would get no closer than 18 for the rest of the afternoon as Loyola cruised to a convincing win on its home floor.   
 
Inside The Box Score
- Loyola finished with season-high marks in points (82), field goal percentage (50 percent) and assists (22) in today's victory.
- Cerda fell just three points shy of tying her season high as she poured in a game-high 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting.  The Streamwood, Ill. native finished at 4-of-10 from beyond the three-point arc.
- Salmon (15 points), Rice (12 points), O'Connor (12 points) and Meyer (10 points) all joined Cerda in double figures as the Ramblers put five players at or above the 10-point plateau for the first time since December 21, 2015.
- Wallace and Strawbridge dished out seven assists apiece.
- Loyola turned in another strong showing on the glass, outrebounding Evansville by a final margin of 40-28.
- Kerri Gasper paced the Evansville attack with 15 points.
 
Up Next
Loyola opens its second swing through Missouri Valley Conference play with a two-game road trip through Central Illinois next weekend that features games against Illinois State (February 2) and Bradley (February 4).