Box Score

In Short…
Missouri State (10-7, 6-0 MVC) used a third-quarter spurt to seize control as it handed Loyola University Chicago an 84-49 defeat this evening inside JQH Arena in Springfield, Mo.  Tonight's result sees the Ramblers fall to 9-8 overall and 3-3 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
 
How It Happened
Loyola struggled from the field early on, connecting on just one of its first four attempts as Missouri State built an 8-2 lead with three minutes gone.  Tiara Wallace looked to spark the Ramblers on the offensive end, converting on a three-point play, as Loyola battled its way back within one, 13-12, on another driving score from Wallace.  Points would come at a premium on both ends over the final 3:26 of the frame, as Missouri State took a 16-12 lead into the second quarter.
 
Ellie Rice knocked down her first of three second-quarter jumpers 27 seconds in to again make it a one-possession game, 16-14.  Sydney Manning took over in the minutes following, rattling off 12 of Missouri State's next 14 points, the last three of which came on a triple that extended the Lady Bears' lead to into double digits, 30-20, as the hosts took a 38-27 edge into the intermission.
 
Missouri State came out on fire to begin the second half, scoring the first nine points of the third quarter to open up a 47-27 advantage.  A split at the free throw line from Janae Gonzales snapped a near three-minute scoring drought for Loyola, cutting the margin to 47-28, but the Maroon & Gold would get no closer than 18 for the rest of the night, seeing its brief two-game winning streak brought to an end.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Rice finished 5-of-11 from the field en route to leading Loyola with 11 points. 
- Alexis Meyer came off the bench to chip in 10 points of her own, reaching double figures in scoring for the second time in the last three games.
- Loyola shot 45 percent (20-of-44) but was done in, in part, by 25 turnovers, which Missouri State cashed in for 23 points off of.
- Manning and Danielle Gitzen paced the Lady Bears with 12 points apiece.
 
Up Next
Loyola heads east to Carbondale, Ill. on Sunday afternoon for a 2 p.m. tilt against Southern Illinois at the SIU Arena.