Box Score

In Short…
Visiting Drake shot a blistering 58.7 percent (37-of-63) from the field as it prevailed in a 97-53 decision over Loyola University Chicago tonight inside Gentile Arena.  The victory, Drake's 39^th straight in league play, moves the Bulldogs to 22-7 overall (17-0 MVC), while the Ramblers fall to 7-21 (5-12 MVC).
 
How It Happened
Both teams came out hot on the offensive end, combining to shoot close to 60 percent in the first quarter.  Scores on consecutive trips by Katie Salmon and Abby O'Connor broke an early deadlock and put Loyola on top, 8-4, with 7:26 remaining.  A pair of threes by Jessica Cerda gave the Ramblers their largest of the night, 14-4, as part of a start that would see Loyola record assists on each of their first 10 baskets.  Drake would begin to find its footing as the quarter wore on, closing back to within 23-20 at the end of the first frame.
 
The Bulldogs caught fire from distance to open the second quarter, connecting on four straight triples, two of which came from Paige Greiner, to surge in front, 32-23, at the 7:45 mark.  An old-fashioned three-point play by Tiara Wallace trimmed the Drake lead to 32-26, but that would prove to be as close as the Maroon & Gold could get as the visitors took a 51-30 advantage into the locker room. 
 
Drake, which entered the night as the Valley leader in multiple offensive categories, kept its foot on the gas in the second half, holding Loyola without a made field goal until a Wallace layup with just under two minutes remaining in the third quarter, as the Bulldogs cruised to their 22^nd victory of the season. 
 
Inside The Box Score
- Cerda led the Loyola attack on the night with 17 points, reaching double figures in scoring for a sixth-straight game and eighth time in her last nine appearances.  The Streamwood, Ill. native knocked down five shots from beyond the three-point arc, tying her season high in the category.
- Wallace narrowly missed out on her second career double-double, adding 11 points to go along with a career-best nine assists.
- Loyola's 20 assists on the night fell just two short of the team's season-high of 22 that was set back on January 28 against Evansville.
- Drake, which finished the night with a staggering 31 assists on 37 made shots, was led by Becca Hittner's game-high 25 points. 
 
Up Next
Loyola will close out the regular season portion of its schedule on Saturday afternoon when it plays host to Northern Iowa.  The Ramblers will honor their graduating seniors in a special pregame ceremony prior to the 1 p.m. tip-off against the Panthers.