Box Score
In Short…
Loyola University Chicago shot 58 percent (29-of-50) as it opened up an early lead and never looked back, defeating Valparaiso (4-9, 0-1 MVC), 80-54, in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams this afternoon inside Gentile Arena. The Ramblers, who now sit at 7-5 overall (1-0 MVC), have now matched their win total from all of last season.
How It Happened
Abby O'Connor, fresh off a 31-point performance in Loyola's non-conference finale against DePaul, knocked down her first three of the afternoon just under four minutes in to open up a 9-5 lead for the Maroon & Gold.
Alexis Meyer, who made her 2018-19 debut today, finished inside off of a find by
Tiara Wallace late in the frame as Loyola took an 18-12 edge into the second quarter.
An
Allison Day post score that was followed by two
Citiana Negatu makes at the free throw line pushed the Ramblers' lead to 10 (22-12) with 8:28 remaining in the first half. Consecutive threes from O'Connor and
Janae Gonzales upped the margin to 30-14 two minutes later. A fast break layup from Wallace saw the gap balloon to 23 (42-19) before Valparaiso finished the quarter with a 5-0 spurt to pull within 42-24 at halftime.
Meredith Hamlet connected from outside with 7:16 to play in the third quarter to chip the Loyola lead to 44-27 as the Crusaders looked to battle back. The Ramblers responded with a 9-0 run that was punctuated by another Gonzales trey to take a commanding 53-27 advantage. Valparaiso would get no closer than 18 for the remainder of regulation as Loyola notched its second 1-0 start to a Valley campaign in program history.
Inside The Box Score
- For the second time in as many games, O'Connor turned in a standout performance, finishing with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting. The South Bend, Ind. native fell just a rebound shy of a double-double, collecting nine caroms, and blocked three shots. O'Connor is the first Rambler since Taylor Johnson (2015-16) to score at least 20 points in consecutive games.
- Gonzales drained five threes of her own as part of a 17-point showing, while Day added 11 points and six rebounds in the first start of her young collegiate career.
- Led by O'Connor and Gonzales' efforts, Loyola shot a scorching 64.7% (11-of-17) from distance, the second highest single-game three-point shooting percentage in program history.
- Wallace flirted with a triple-double, tying a season high with seven assists to go along with six points and eight rebounds.
- Hamlet finished with 15 points to lead Valparaiso.
Up Next
Loyola opens up a two-game road trip through the state of Iowa when it takes on Valley powerhouse Drake on Friday, January 11 at 6 p.m.
