The Valley on ESPN vs. Southern Illinois | Live Stats vs. Southern Illinois | Loyola Game Notes

The Valley on ESPN vs. Missouri State (subscription required) | Live Stats vs. Missouri State | Loyola Game Notes

CHICAGO (February 20, 2019) - Fresh off a two-game sweep on the road, Loyola University Chicago will look to keep momentum rolling this coming weekend as it returns to Gentile Arena for the final time during the 2018-19 regular season.

The Ramblers, who own an 8-5 (.615) record in games played in Rogers Park, will open the weekend by hosting Southern Illinois on Friday evening at 7 p.m. before wrapping up their home slate against Missouri State in a 1 p.m Sunday afternoon tilt.  Sunday's matchup with the Lady Bears will also serve as the program's Senior Day, with a special pregame ceremony to precede tip-off.
 

LAST TIME OUT
Loyola picked up a pair of victories in the state of Indiana last weekend, grinding out a 44-36 win over Indiana State on Friday evening, its first victory at the Hulman Center, before cruising past Evansville, 71-51, on Sunday.  Abby O'Connor led the way for the Ramblers, notching a double-double (17 points, 14 rebounds) against the Sycamores before a 22-point effort in Sunday's win over the Purple Aces.  
 

LOYOLA – SOUTHERN ILLINOIS – THE SERIES
In a series that dates back to 1982, Southern Illinois owns a slim 9-7 (.563) edge in 16 previous encounters with Loyola.  The Salukis have picked up victories in five of the previous six meetings, including a 74-63 win back on January 27 in Carbondale, Ill.  Janae Gonzales enjoyed a breakout performance in the matchup, pouring in a season-high 30 points and connecting on eight three-point field goals.  Loyola's lone victory in the aforementioned stretch came last season at Gentile Arena, as it battled past Southern Illinois, 62-53. Jessica Cerda led all scorers with 19 points, while Abby O'Connor (14 points) and Kailyn Strawbridge (13 points) also reached double figures in scoring for the Maroon & Gold.


LOYOLA – MISSOURI STATE – THE SERIES
Missouri State holds a 10-3 (.769) advantage in 13 all-time matchups against the Ramblers.  Since a 63-61 Loyola win in the first meeting between the two institutions as MVC members, the Lady Bears have rattled off 10 straight wins, including an 84-49 victory back on January 25 at JQH Arena in Springfield, Mo.  Ellie Rice (11 points) and Alexis Meyer (10 points) paced the Ramblers in the defeat.  When the two teams met last season in Rogers Park, Loyola gave Missouri State all it could handle, battling back from an early hole to take a two-point lead in the fourth quarter.  Missouri State would go on to hold the Ramblers scoreless for the final 6:07 of regulation as it escaped with a 69-58 triumph.  Cerda (16 points), O'Connor (14 points) and Rice (14 points) led the charge for Loyola.
 

ATTACK DOGS
Southern Illinois comes to Rogers Park looking to snap out of a stretch that has seen it drop four of its last five games, sending the Salukis back below the .500 mark at 11-12 overall (4-8 MVC).

After splitting a pair of games at home last week against Bradley (W, 62-55) and Illinois State (L, 68-66), sixth-year head coach Cindy Stein's team resides in eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference standings, 1.5 games back of Loyola for sixth place.

The Salukis are led by the trio of Nicole Martin (14.8 ppg), Makenzie Silvey (14.5 ppg) and Abby Brockmeyer (10.0 ppg), all three of which average in double figures in scoring. Martin operates at a sizzling 53.5 percent (76-of-142) clip from the field, while Silvey has hit on a team-high 55 three-point field goals over 23 appearances. Brockmeyer, the 2017-18 MVC Freshman of the Year, leads the team in both rebounds (7.8 rpg) and blocked shots (1.2 bpg).  
 

DON'T SLEEP ON THESE BEARS
Missouri State sits atop the MVC standings with an 11-1 mark in conference play as part of a 15-8 overall record on the year.

Under the guidance of head coach Kelli Harper, Missouri State saw its 13-game win streak brought to an end last Friday in Springfield, Mo., dropping a tightly-contested 60-56 decision to Illinois State.  The Lady Bears got back on track two days later, throttling Bradley, 82-60. 

Like Southern Illinois, Missouri State features three players in double figures in scoring on the year in Danielle Gitzen (12.8 ppg), Alexa Willard (12.3 ppg) and Brice Calip (10.4 ppg).  Gitzen also leads the Lady Bears in both assists (3.1 apg) and steals (1.6 spg).  Freshman standout Jazmine Franklin has impressed for Harper's team, averaging just shy of a double-double (9.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg) for the season. 


UP NEXT
Loyola opens up a season-ending three-game road trip next week in Central Illinois, where it will take on Illinois State (February 28) and Bradley (March 2).