CHICAGO (November 30, 2019) – Off to its best start in 40 years, Loyola has the chance to move to 6-0 for the first time in program history as it battles Portland on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. (CT) at the Chiles Center in Portland, Ore.  The matchup with the Pilots, which concludes a season-long four-game road swing four the Maroon & Gold, will serve as a homecoming for Alexis Meyer, a Portland native who was a two-time All-Metro League selection at Westview High School.

LAST TIME OUT
Loyola picked up its fourth consecutive road win in thrilling fashion last Friday, defeating Kansas City in double overtime, 72-67, at the Swinney Center in Kansas City, Mo.  Allison Day poured in a team-high 17 points to pace a trio of Ramblers in double figures that also included Ellie Rice (14 points) and Sam Galanopoulos (10 points).  Galanopoulos was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week after averaging 11.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and a team-best 5.5 assists in a pair of victories last week.

LOYOLA – PORTLAND – THE SERIES
Sunday afternoon's matchup will not only as the first meeting between Loyola and Portland on the hardwood, but will also be the Ramblers first game in the state of Oregon in program history.  Loyola is 5-3 (.625) in eight previous meetings with current members of the West Coast Conference (WCC), the league which Portland calls home.  In its most recent meeting with a WCC opponent, Loyola pulled out a 65-63 win over San Francisco on November 26, 2011. 
 
SETTING THE COURSE
After starting the season a perfect 4-0, Portland has lost two of its last three games to fall to 5-2 (.714) on the year.  The Pilots dropped a 76-69 decision to visiting Abilene Christian on Friday afternoon at the Chiles Center.  First-year head coach Michael Meek's team was picked to finish 10th in the WCC Preseason Poll this season following a 13-17 (5-13 WCC) campaign in 2018-19.  Alex Fowler, a freshman who played on the Australian National Team in this past summer's FIBA U-19 Women's World Cup, has been a force early on this season for the Pilots, averaging 17.6 points and 8.4 rebounds, both team-best marks.  2018-19 WCC All-Freshman Team honoree Haylee Andrews has added 15.0 points per game across four appearances, but has missed each of Portland's last three games.  Kate Andersen (13.0 ppg) and Maddie Muhlheim (11.0 ppg) also average in double figures for Meek's side.

UP NEXT
Loyola will return to Gentile Arena for the first time in nearly a month on Wednesday, November 4 when it hosts Dartmouth at 7 p.m.