CHICAGO (December 3, 2019) – Loyola returns home for the first time since November 8 on Wednesday evening as it hosts Dartmouth at 7 p.m. to open up a stretch that will see if play six of its next seven games within the friendly confines of Gentile Arena.

Currently sitting at a perfect 6-0 for the first time in program history, Loyola recently completed a clean sweep of a four-game road trip that saw it travel 5,736 round-trip miles between appearances in Rogers Park.  Loyola is one of only 18 teams in Division I women's basketball with a perfect record.

Wednesday's clash will also serve as a reunion of sorts for current Loyola assistant coach Maria Noucas-Williamson, who served on the Big Green staff in a similar role for four years prior to joining the Maroon & Gold.

LAST TIME OUT
Loyola battled back from a 13-point second-half deficit as it ultimately defeated host Portland in overtime, 78-64, this past Sunday at the Chiles Center in Portland, Ore.  Ellie Rice recorded her first career double-double (17 points, 12 rebounds) to lead a quartet of Ramblers to score in double figures in the victory that also included Abby O'Connor (16 points), Allison Day (14 points), and Tiara Wallace (11 points).

LOYOLA – DARTMOUTH – THE SERIES
Loyola and Dartmouth will meet for only the fourth time on Wednesday in Rogers Park.  The Ramblers own a 2-1 (.667) edge in the previous three meetings, a series in which each team has protected its home floor. Loyola is 4-5 (.444) all-time versus Ivy League members.  When Dartmouth last visited The Windy City back on December 19, 2013, Troy Hambric finished with a game-high 21 points, five rebounds, and three blocks as Loyola edged the Big Green by a final count of 56-52. 
 
FIELDS OF GREEN
Dartmouth sits at 3-1 (.750) overall as it makes its way to Chicago for a two-game swing that also includes a matchup up the road in Evanston on Saturday against Northwestern.  Under the direction of head coach Belle Koclanes, the Big Green, who were picked sixth in the Ivy League Preseason Poll, were victorious in their first three games of the year before dropping a 70-58 decision on the road at Manhattan this past Sunday.  Dartmouth is led by the pairing of Annie McKenna and Anna Luce. McKenna, a local product out of suburban Elmwood Park, Ill., leads the team in scoring at 13.5 points per game and also dishes out a team-best 5.2 assists per contest. Luce has been a force inside, operating at a sizzling 53.7 percent (22-of-41) clip from the field en route to averaging 13.3 points per game.  

UP NEXT
Loyola ventures back out on the road when it travels to Edwardsville, Ill. for a 2 p.m. tilt with SIUE on Sunday, December 8.