Loyola Game Notes vs. Drake | The Valley on ESPN3 vs. Drake | Live Stats vs. Drake
 
Loyola Game Notes vs. Northern Iowa | The Valley on ESPN3 vs. Northern Iowa | Live Stats vs. Northern Iowa
 

CHICAGO (February 28, 2018) – Loyola University Chicago opens its final homestand of the 2017-18 regular season at the end of the week when it plays host to Drake and Northern Iowa.  The MVC-leading Bulldogs will visit Gentile Arena at 7 p.m. on Thursday evening ahead of a 1 p.m. matchup with Northern Iowa on Saturday.   Loyola will honor its graduating senior class of Jessica Cerda, Katie Salmon and Lee Williams prior to tip-off against the Panthers.
 
 
Beware The Bite Of This Dog

• Drake, which captured its second-straight outright MVC regular-season title by defeating Illinois State, 80-64, last Sunday, enters the weekend at 21-7 overall with an unblemished 16-0 mark in Valley play.
• The Bulldogs currently own the longest win streak in the history of the MVC/Gateway Conference for regular season contests, having rattled off 38 consecutive victories in league play.
• Head coach Jennie Baranczyk's team leads the Valley in multiple offensive categories, including scoring offense (82.6 ppg), scoring margin (+13.5) and assists (22.8 apg). Becca Hittner (15.4 ppg), Sara Rhine (15.3 ppg) and Sammie Bachrodt (10.5 ppg) all average in double figures for the Bulldogs.

 
Purple Reign

• Northern Iowa brings an overall record of 15-12 into the weekend that includes an 11-5 ledger in Valley play.  The Panthers will open the final weekend of league play with a visit to Valparaiso on Thursday night.
• Head coach Tanya Warren's team has caught fire of late, picking up wins in nine of their last 12 games.  Most recently, the Panthers earned a 63-50 win over Bradley last Sunday.
• As is the case with Drake, Northern Iowa features a balanced attack with three players averaging at least 10 points.  That trio includes Kennedy Kirkpatrick (10.8 ppg), Ellie Howell (10.1 ppg) and Megan Maahs (10.1 ppg).   The Panthers rank as one of the league's top defensive outfits, ranking second overall in scoring defense (58.3 ppg).

Up Next

• After wrapping up its regular-season slate, Loyola will turn its attention to the upcoming Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, March 8-11, in Moline, Ill.
• The Ramblers will open tournament play on Thursday, March 8 against an opponent that is yet to be determined at the TaxSlayer Center.