Box Score
 
In Short…
Janae Gonzales knocked down eight three-point field goals en route to a season-high 30 points as Southern Illinois (10-8, 3-4 MVC) picked up a 74-63 win over Loyola University Chicago this afternoon at the SIU Arena in Carbondale, Ill. Today's result brings the Ramblers to 9-9 overall (3-4 MVC).
 
How It Happened
Both teams were forced to shake off some early struggles on the offensive end. Gonzales put the Ramblers on the board 3:32 in, knocking down one of her three first-quarter triples to even up the score at 3-3.  The freshman connected again with 2:30 remaining to give Loyola a brief 10-7 edge before Celina VanHyfte answered with a trey of her own to knot it up at 10-10 end of the opening frame.
 
Gonzales stayed hot heading into the second quartet, draining another three that again gave Loyola the lead, 13-12, at the 8:21 mark.  Southern Illinois responded back with an 8-2 surge to open up its largest advantage of the first half, 20-15, with 5:48 to play.  The Maroon & Gold battled back, with Ellie Rice rattling off Loyola's final five points of the half, the last of which came on a corner triple that sent the two in-state rivals to the locker room deadlocked at 22-22.
 
A Nicole Martin fastbreak layup capped off a half-opening 6-0 run for the hosts that vaulted Southern Illinois back in front, 28-22.  Abby O'Connor knocked down her first trey of the day to cut the Saluki lead in half, 28-25, at the 7:47 mark.  Loyola battled back within two on a Meyer jumper with 6:27 remaining but Southern Illinois ripped off a 13-4 surge in the following minutes as it enjoyed a 45-36 lead after three quarters of play.
 
Tiara Wallace came up with a steal and score just 21 seconds into the fourth quartet to trim the deficit to 45-38.  Southern Illinois gave itself some breathing room shortly thereafter, stretching its lead out to 16 (60-44) with just over three minutes to play. Gonzales finished her career day with a flurry, knocking down four threes over the final 2:37, the last of which made her the second Rambler this season to reach the 30-point plateau this season.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Gonzales was spectacular today, finishing with the aforementioned 30 points (11-of-17 FGs, 8-13 3FGs) to go along with three rebounds and three steals.  The Tolleson, Ariz. native's eight made three-point field goals are tied for the second most in a game in program history and are the most by a Rambler since Maggie McCloskey connected on nine triples against Wright State back on Feb. 13, 2010.
- O'Connor finished just two rebounds shy of a double-double, scoring 10 points and collecting eight caroms.
- Wallace handed out a team-high seven assists, her seventh game this season with at least five helpers.
- Martin closed the day with 18 points and 10 rebounds to pace a quartet of Salukis in double figures.
 
Up Next
Loyola opens up a season-long four-game homestand next weekend as it closes out the first half of its Valley slate against Illinois State (February 1) and Bradley (February 3).  Next Sunday's 1 p.m. tilt with the Braves will serve as the program's annual "Alumni Day". More information, along with a link to register, can be found here.