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CHICAGO (December 5, 2018) – Off to its best start through seven games in nearly 15 years, Loyola University Chicago returns to Gentile Arena on Thursday evening looking to extend its winning streak to four when it matches up against SIUE at 7 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Four Ramblers scored in double figures as Loyola grinded out a 64-53 win over Western Michigan this past Monday at University Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich.  Ellie Rice led the aforementioned quartet with 17 points, while Kat Nolan recorded the first double-double of her collegiate career, adding 13 points and 11 rebounds, as Loyola picked up its second road win of the season.

LOYOLA – SIUE – THE SERIES
Loyola and SIUE will meet tonight for the first time in over nine years on Wednesday evening in Rogers Park.  The Maroon & Gold holds a perfect 5-0 record in the previous encounters, with the last coming back on November 23, 2009 when the Ramblers cruised to an 85-66 victory.  Loyola sports a 13-9 ledger against current Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) opponents.  The Ramblers' last met an institution from the 12-member league during the 2015-16 season, picking up an 86-75 overtime victory against in-state rival Eastern Illinois in Charleston, Ill.

HERE COME THE COUGARS
SIUE, which has split its last four games, enters Wednesday's tilt with Loyola at 3-2 on the season.  The Cougars, who dropped a 63-56 decision at Saint Louis last Saturday, were voted to finish sixth in the OVC Preseason Poll, claiming a first-place vote, after finishing the 2017-18 campaign at 17-15 and earning a berth to the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI).  Head coach Paula Buscher's team features one of the nation's top defenses, allowing just 54.2 points per game, a mark that ranks in the top 50 nationally and is second in the OVC.  On the offensive end, Jay'nee Alston leads the team in scoring (10. 3 ppg), while Sydney Bauman averages just shy of double-double (9.4 ppg, 10.8 rpg). 

UP NEXT
Loyola wraps up the road portion of its non-conference schedule on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. (CT) when it visits West Lafayette, Ind. to take on Purdue at Mackey Arena.