Box Score

In Short…
Seventh-seeded Loyola University Chicago shot just shy of 57 percent (33-for-58) and used a first-quarter run to seize control, defeating Evansville (4-26, 2-16 MVC) by a final count of 90-80 in the opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament this evening at TaxSlayer Center in Moline, Ill.  Tonight's victory, Loyola's first in the postseason since 2014-15, moves the Ramblers to 13-17 overall (6-12 MVC).
 
Coach Kate Achter's Thoughts…
"They don't all have to be pretty, but I think for about 30 minutes we played pretty good Loyola basketball, which I was very proud of.  Most importantly, I'm proud of our kids for finishing the game.  They found a way, despite a flurry of threes from Evansville. It certainly wasn't the defensive effort that we wanted, but we found enough offense to win."
 
How It Happened
Neither side was able to gain separation in the game's early stages, with the two teams trading the lead during the opening minutes.  With Evansville holding on to an 11-9 edge, Tiara Wallace finished in the paint to pull Loyola level at the 3:48 mark, sparking a quarter-ending 15-0 run, capped off by back-to-back Jazmine Covington buckets, that saw the Maroon & Gold charge in front, 24-11.
 
Covington stayed hot in the second frame, knocking down triples on consecutive possessions to stretch the Loyola lead to 20 (32-12) with just under two minutes gone.  Ellie Rice and Abby O'Connor added on threes of their own in the following minutes, stretching the margin to 38-16 with 4:55 to play.  Allison Day converted on a conventional three-point play with 2:08 remaining, giving the Ramblers their largest lead of the half, 46-22, as Loyola sprinted into the locker room up, 46-28.
 
Loyola continued to keep the pressure on in the second half, with another Covington make giving the Ramblers' their largest lead of the night, 67-41, at the 1:43 mark of the third quarter.  Evansville would catch fire in the final frame, erupting for 34 points over the final 10 minutes, but Loyola was able to hold off the upset-minded Purple Aces down the stretch to secure its spot in Friday's quarterfinals. 
 
Inside The Box Score
- Loyola's 90 points scored are its most since February 28, 2013.
- O'Connor led the Ramblers with 22 points (9-13 FGs, 1-3 3FGs, 3-3 FTs) and 10 rebounds, recording her sixth double-double of the season.  The South Bend, Ind. native also racked up a career-high four blocks and handed out three assists.
- Covington (16 points) and Dunson (13 points) both set new career bests, while Day (10 points) and Wallace (10 points) rounded out a quintet of Ramblers in double figures.
- Kailyn Strawbridge dished out a team-high six helpers as part of a 21-assist effort by Loyola.
- Kerri Gasper paced Evansville with 23 points.
 
Up Next
Loyola moves on to quarterfinals of the MVC Tournament tomorrow evening, where it will battle second-seeded Missouri State at 6 p.m. inside TaxSlayer Center.