In Short…
Loyola University Chicago moved to a perfect 8-0 and completed a clean sweep of its road non-conference schedule as it defeated SIUE (2-6) by a final count of 63-50 this afternoon at First Community Arena in Edwardsville, Ill.
 
How It Happened
Abby O'Connor connected on a straightaway three just 35 seconds in to quickly put Loyola in front, 3-0, and give the Ramblers a lead that they would never relinquish.  Janae Gonzales drilled a triple of her own to stretch the lead to eight, 14-6, before SIUE battled back to within three, 14-11, on a Mikayla Kinard post score.  The Ramblers rattled off the frame's final four points, the last two of which came on a buzzer-beater from Allison Day, to reestablish a seven-point lead, 18-11.
 
Day picked up right where she left off to open the second quarter, finishing on a second-chance opportunity to make it 20-11.  SIUE would chip the margin down to six, 23-17, on a Christen King three with six minutes to play in the half.  Six straight points from Jala Johnson over the next 1:17 gave Loyola its largest lead up to that point, 29-17.  The Cougars refused to go away, making it a two-point game, 29-27, on a Zaria Whitlock fastbreak score before Gonzales dialed in again from distance to give Loyola a 32-27 lead at halftime.
 
Loyola came out firing to begin the third quarter, opening the frame on a 6-0 surge that was capped off by another Day bucket to push the lead to 38-27 with 7:48 to play.  O'Connor finished off a great find by Day at the 3:02 mark to up the advantage to 45-33 as Loyola ultimately took a 47-35 edge into the fourth quarter.
 
SIUE continued to battle, rattling off eight unanswered points to begin the fourth quarter, the last two of which came on a Bria Stallworth jumper in the paint that trimmed Loyola's lead back down to four, 47-43.  The Maroon & Gold quickly extinguished any hopes of a comeback by the hosts, with an Ellie Rice layup igniting a backbreaking 11-0 run that saw Loyola hold SIUE scoreless for 4:46, pushing the lead back into double digits for the remainder of the afternoon.  
 
Inside The Box Score
- Day led all scorers with 17 points (7-15 FGs, 3-5 FTs) and narrowly missed out on a double-double, collecting eight rebounds in addition to a season-best four assists. 
- O'Connor (5-11 FGs, 1-4 3FGs, 2-3 FTs) and Rice (4-9 FGs, 1-4 3FGs, 2-2 FTs) added 13 points and 11 points, respectively, with each also grabbing seven rebounds.
- Johnson provided a lift off the bench, rounding out a quartet of Ramblers in double figures with 10 points (4-6 FGs, 2-2 FTs) in just 14 minutes of action.
- O'Connor and Tiara Wallace both were credited with five assists, while Wallace racked up four steals, her third game with at least three takeaways this season.
- Loyola recorded assists on 21 of its 25 made baskets. 
- Allie Troeckler finished with a team-high 12 points (5-11 FGs, 2-2 FTs) for SIUE.
 
Up Next
Loyola will take a week off for final exams before returning to action on Monday, December 16 when it hosts Bowling Green at 11 a.m. for "Field Trip Day with the Ramblers", with over 3,000 children from local schools expected to be in attendance at Gentile Arena.