CHICAGO (December 28, 2019) – Already assured of its best non-conference finish in program history, Loyola University Chicago will welcome Western Michigan to Gentile Arena at 7 p.m. on Monday in the non-conference finale for both teams.

Currently sitting at 9-1 (.900) overall, the Ramblers will finish with a winning record in non-conference play for the second time in as many seasons, a feat which has not been accomplished since the 2009-10 and 2010-11 campaigns.


LAST TIME OUT
Loyola gave No. 16/16 DePaul all it could handle back on December 20, dropping a hard- fought 83-76 decision to the Blue Demons in Rogers Park.  Abby O'Connor and Allison Day scored 16 points apiece in the loss, with O'Connor also collecting nine rebounds to finish just a carom shy of a double-double.  Tiara Wallace added 11 points and a career-high tying nine assists, while Jala Johnson came off the bench to pour in 14 points.
 

LOYOLA – WESTERN MICHIGAN – THE SERIES
Monday's non-conference finale marks the tenth all-time meeting between Loyola and Western Michigan and fifth in as many seasons.  The Broncos hold a 6-3 (.667) advantage in the previous nine meetings, having prevailed in four of their last five matchups with the Maroon & Gold.  Loyola snapped a four-game losing streak to Western Michigan when the two teams met last season in Kalamazoo, Mich., picking up a 64-53 victory at University Arena.  Ellie Rice finished with 17 points to lead a quintet of Ramblers to score in double figures that also included Kat Nolan, who posted her first career double-double, chipping in 13 points and 11 rebounds.  Loyola turned in a sparkling showing on the defensive end in the win, holding Western Michigan to just 31 percent shooting.


BRONCOS CHARGING ON
Western Michigan arrives in The Windy City playing some of its best basketball of the season, having won four of its last five games to move to 6-4 (.600) as it approaches the start of Mid-American Conference (MAC) play.  Led by eighth-year head coach Shane Clipfell, the Broncos were picked to finish sixth in the MAC West Division in the conference's preseason poll.  Breanna Mobley, who redshirted during the 2018-19 season, was tabbed a Preseason All-MAC West Division honoree.  Clipfell's team features an extremely balanced offensive attack that features five players who average in double figures.  Jordan Walker, who, like Mobley, redshirted last season, averages a team-high 15.7 points and has cracked the 20-point plateau three times this season.  Mobley has lived up to her lofty preseason accolades, averaging a double-double (13.6 ppg, 10.1 rpg) in addition to a team-best 1.1 blocks per contest.


UP NEXT
Loyola raises the curtain on its 18-game Missouri Valley Conference slate this coming weekend with a pair of matchups in Rogers Park to close out its current homestand.  The Ramblers will entertain No. 21/19 Missouri State in The Valley opener for both teams on Friday, January 3 at 3 p.m. ahead of a 1 p.m. clash with Southern Illinois on Sunday, January 5.