Box Score

In Short…
Led by four players in double figures, Loyola University Chicago grinded out a 64-53 victory over host Western Michigan this evening at University Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich.  The win, Loyola's third straight, moves the Ramblers to 5-2, while Western Michigan falls to 2-4.
 
How It Happened
Western Michigan jumped out to an early 12-5 lead before Loyola began to find its footing on the offensive end.  Kat Nolan drilled a three to pull the Ramblers within one, 15-14, with 1:40 to play before a conventional three-point play from reigning MVC Newcomer of the Week Janae Gonzales gave Loyola a 17-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
Points came at a premium in the second frame, with both teams struggling to settle into a rhythm.  Deja Wimby's steal and score broke a long scoreless stretch, knotting the game up at 19-19 at the 4:56 mark.   Buckets on consecutive trips from Ellie Rice and Citiana Negatu sparked a 6-0 spurt that pushed Loyola back in front, 25-19.  Western Michigan battled back to trim the lead to just two, 27-25, following a Jasmyn Walker layup as time expired in the first half.
 
The Broncos looked to ride momentum coming out of halftime, taking a 34-33 lead on a Wimby three-point play with just under four minutes gone.  With the two teams deadlocked at 41-41 at the 1:47 mark, Tiara Wallace finished off a three-point play of her own to nudge the Maroon & Gold on top, 44-41, before five straight points from Rice, three of which came from distance, helped Loyola open up a 51-43 advantage heading to the fourth quarter.
 
Loyola kept its foot on the gas entering the final frame, with a Wallace paint score giving the Ramblers their largest lead of the night, 55-43, with 7:57 remaining in regulation.  Nina Farkic banked in a three at the 1:59 mark to close the gap to 59-53, but that would be as close as the Broncos could get, as Loyola held the hosts scoreless the rest of the way en route to a 64-53 triumph.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Rice, who played a full 40 minutes, paced the attack for Loyola with 17 points, reaching double figures in scoring for the sixth time in seven games this season.
- Abby O'Connor added 14 points, while Nolan contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds to record her first double-double. 
- Wallace chipped in 12 points and team-high marks in both assists (3) and steals (4).
- Loyola won the battle on the boards by a final margin of 40-35 to move to a perfect 5-0 when it outrebounds its opponents.
- The Ramblers turned in a sparkling defensive effort, holding Western Michigan to just 31 percent shooting (20-of-64) on the night.   
- Wimby led all scorers with 20 points.
 
Up Next
Loyola returns home on Thursday night to host SIUE at 7 p.m. inside Gentile Arena.