The Valley on ESPN vs. DePaul | Live Stats vs. DePaul | Loyola Game Notes

CHICAGO (December 19, 2018) - Loyola University Chicago closes out the non-conference portion of its 2018-19 schedule by taking on a familiar foe as No. 20/18 DePaul visits Gentile Arena on Thursday evening at 7 p.m.  Currently sitting at 6-4 overall, the Ramblers have already clinched their first winning non-conference record since the 2011-12 season.

LAST TIME OUT
Loyola shot just under 46 percent (27-for-59) from the field but was undone in part by 18 turnovers as visiting UMKC picked up an 88-74 win last Sunday in Rogers Park.  Kat Nolan enjoyed a career-best outing, going a perfect 8-of-8 from the field as she finished with 17 points to lead a quartet of Ramblers in double figures.

LOYOLA – DePaul – THE SERIES
Thursday's matchup marks the 46th installment of the rivalry between Loyola and DePaul in women's basketball.  The Blue Demons own a healthy 35-10 edge in the all-time series, having won 23 of the previous 24 meetings.  When the two city rivals met last season at Wintrust Arena on December 4, 2017, Loyola opened up a five-point second-quarter lead before DePaul used a 22-6 run to take command en route to picking up an 88-47 victory.  Abby O'Connor paced a trio of Ramblers in double figures with 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in the defeat.

DANGEROUS DEMONS
DePaul rolls into Thursday on a four-game winning streak that has upped the Blue Demons' record to 8-3.  Veteran head coach Doug Bruno's team finds itself rated in both the AP Top 25 (#20) and the Coaches Poll (#18).  

Led by 18-point efforts from the trio of Mart'e Grays, Kelly Campbell and Dee Bekelja, DePaul cruised to a 95-73 win over Tennessee State at McGrath-Phillips Arena this past Monday. 

As has been the case in Bruno's time in Lincoln Park, DePaul once again features a high-powered offense, led by Ashton Millender (14.0 ppg), Chante Stonewall (13.5 ppg) and Grays (12.3 ppg), that averages an impressive 85.4 ppg.  The Blue Demons connect on an NCAA-best 12.8 three-point field goals per game.  DePaul's relentless pressure defense has forced opposing teams into a staggering 227 turnovers through 11 games this season.


UP NEXT
Loyola officially opens Missouri Valley Conference play in just over two weeks when it entertains Valparaiso on Sunday, January 6 to close out a three-game homestand.  Tip-off from inside Gentile Arena is set at 1 p.m.