Box Score

In Short…
Loyola University Chicago chipped a 19-point fourth-quarter deficit down to single digits in the closing minute of regulation, but time ran out on the Ramblers' comeback hopes as UNI (14-8, 7-3 MVC) escaped Gentile Arena this evening with a 71-65 victory.  Tonight's result brings the Maroon & Gold to 10-11 overall (4-6 MVC).
 
How It Happened
Both teams came out firing to open up the night, each operating at over 50 percent from the field in the first 10 minutes.  Abby O'Connor muscled up a shot inside to cap off a 6-0 spurt from the hosts that staked Loyola to an early 10-5 edge at the 5:54 mark.  Back-to-back Nicole Kroeger threes helped put UNI back in front, 13-12.  O'Connor and Janae Gonzales responded with triples of their own as the two teams traded scores en route to being knotted up at 20-20 following a frantic opening frame.
 
Buckets from reigning MVC Newcomer of the Week Allison Day and Tiara Wallace opened up a four-point lead for the Ramblers, 24-20, early on in the second quarter.  UNI ratcheted up its pressure on the defensive end in the following minutes, holding Loyola scoreless for 5:11, as it surged in front by nine, 35-26, on Kroeger's third three of the half, prompting a Rambler timeout.  A Wallace layup with 41 seconds to play trimmed the deficit to six, 38-32, before Taylor Hagen knocked down a jumper to send the Panthers into halftime with a 40-32 lead.
 
Gonzales drilled a three just 41 seconds into the third quarter to quickly cut the gap to five, 40-35.  Offense would again prove hard to come by for Loyola as time wore on, with UNI building its lead to 12 (52-40) on a Cynthia Wolf three with 3:36 remaining.  Day answered with a post score on the Ramblers' next possession but the visitors continued to push forward, opening up a 57-43 lead after three quarters of play.
 
Karli Rucker's layup with 7:27 remaining would give UNI its largest lead of the game, 63-44.  That also proved to be the Panthers' final make from the field on the night, as Loyola staged a defensive stand of its own while it whittled away its deficit on the offensive end.  A driving score from Ellie Rice with just over three minutes to play brought the hosts within 10 (63-53).  Loyola did all it could to extend the game with time winding down, forcing UNI to convert from the charity stripe, but would ultimately fall just short.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Gonzales led the Loyola attack with 20 points (8-17 FGs, 4-11 3FGs, 0-1 FTs).  The freshman has now reached or exceeded the 20-point mark three times this season.
- O'Connor battled her way to her second double-double in as many games, becoming the first Rambler to accomplish the feat since 2016-17, as she finished with 15 points (7-16 FGs, 1-3 3FGs) and 11 rebounds
- Rice added 12 points (3-7 FGs, 6-8 FTs) to round out a trio of Ramblers in double figures.
- Wallace handed out a team-high five assists, marking her ninth game of the season with at least five helpers, in addition to six points, three rebounds and a steal.
- Mikaela Morgan paced a group of five Panthers to reach double figures in scoring with 14 points.
 
Up Next
Loyola closes out a season-long four-game homestand on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. against Drake.  The matchup against the Bulldogs will serve as the program's annual Play4Kay Game in support of raising awareness for women's cancer and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.