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CHICAGO (February 8, 2018) – Winners of two of its last three games, Loyola University Chicago lifts the lid on a season-long three-game homestand on Sunday afternoon when it hosts MVC newcomer Valparaiso at 1 p.m. inside Gentile Arena.   

 
Series Stuff

• Loyola and Valparaiso will meet for the 25th time this afternoon as part of a series that dates back to an 88-85 Crusader win back on February 22, 1994.
• Valparaiso owns a 19-5 edge in the all-time series but will be looking to buck a trend that has seen it drop three of its last four trips to Rogers Park.
• In the previous meeting between the two teams on January 12, Valparaiso used a third-quarter surge to take control as it picked up a 76-60 win over Loyola at the Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso, Ind. Abby O'Connor poured in 16 points in the defeat to lead all scorers.

 
Beginning The Crusade

• Valparaiso is in the midst of a stretch that has seen it drop five of its last six games, bringing its record to 10-12 overall.  The Crusaders, who are in search of their first conference road win of the season, hold an identical Valley mark to that of the Ramblers, sitting at 3-8. 
• Valparaiso suffered a pair of setbacks in Central Illinois last weekend, falling to Bradley, 69-58, and Illinois State, 63-55.
• Head coach Tracey Dorow's team is led by the pairing of Dani Franklin and Meredith Hamlet. Franklin, a Second Team All-Horizon League pick last season, leads the Crusader roster in both scoring (15.5 ppg), where she ranks third in the MVC, and rebounding (6.4 rpg). Hamlet also averages in double figures, adding 11.7 points per game.

 
Up Next

• Loyola continues its current homestand next weekend with a pair of contests.
• The Ramblers will host Missouri State on Friday night at 7 p.m. ahead of a Sunday afternoon matinee with Southern Illinois.  The 1 p.m. tip-off against the Salukis will serve as Loyola's Play4Kay game in support of raising awareness of women's cancer and funds for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.