TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (January 12, 2020)

In Short…
Loyola University Chicago (12-3, 3-1 MVC) overcame a difficult day on the offensive end to extend its win streak to three games, defeating Indiana State (2-14, 0-4 MVC) by a final margin of 58-51 this afternoon at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute, Ind.  The Ramblers are now the only team in all of Division I with an 8-0 road record.
 
How It Happened
Loyola found itself in a 6-0 hole before Ellie Rice received a friendly role to put the Ramblers on the board, 6-2, with 2:10 gone.  Jala Johnson came off the bench to provide a lift, adding four points in the first quarter, but that proved to be the end of the Maroon & Gold's offense in the opening 10 minutes, as Indiana State took an 11-6 lead into the second quarter.
 
The Ramblers battled their way in front in the second frame from beyond the three-point arc.  Triples from Janae Gonzales and Abby O'Connor over a 1:21 span gave Loyola a slim 14-13 advantage at the 8:11 mark.  A second-chance score from Rice saw the Ramblers take their largest lead of the afternoon, 23-15, as Loyola held Indiana State to just five points in the second quarter and raced into halftime on top, 23-16. 
 
Gonzales connected on her third trey of the afternoon only 50 seconds into the second half to give Loyola a 26-18 lead.  Indiana State refused to let the Ramblers create separation, battling back within three, 28-25, on a Jamyra McChristine putback with 6:25 remaining.  Sam Galanopoulos finished at the rim following a Kat Nolan steal to stretch the margin back to seven, 32-25, but the hosts closed the gap to just two on a pair of separate occasions in the closing stages of the third quarter as Loyola closed the frame with a perilous 41-37 lead.
 
After two Rice free throws upped Loyola's edge to 43-37 early on in the fourth quarter, Indiana State again looked to mount a push, with four straight points from CeCe Mayo again pulling the Sycamores within two, 43-41.  Allison Day's first bucket of the day couldn't' have come at a better time, as the sophomore used an impressive post move to spark a 6-0 Loyola spurt that gave the Ramblers a 49-41 lead at the 6:28 mark.  The Sycamores answered right back with six unanswered points of their own, four of which came from McChristine, to trim the gap to two, 49-47, with 4:02 remaining.  With Loyola's lead sitting at 52-49 following two Summer Pitzer free throws, Nolan came up with a pair of big buckets on consecutive trips down the floor, the last of which gave the Ramblers a seven-point edge that they would see out until the final buzzer.    
 
Inside The Box Score
- Gonzales led Loyola on the day with 12 points (4-8 FGs, 4-6 3FGs), all of which came from beyond the three-point arc. 
- O'Connor added nine points (3-11 FGs, 1-6 3FGs, 2-4 FTs) and nine rebounds, while Rice ripped down a career-high tying 12 caroms in addition to chipping in eight points (3-7 FGs, 2-4 FTs) and a pair of steals.
- Paced by Nolan's eight points (4-10 FGs), Loyola received a boost from its bench, which outscored Indiana State's, 19-12.
- The Sycamores finished at just over 35 percent (20-of-57) from the field as Loyola moved to 10-0 (1.000) this season when holding opponents under 40 percent shooting.
- Mayo led all scorers with 15 points (5-10 FGs, 1-3 3FGS, 4-5 FTS) for Indiana State.
 
Up Next
Loyola returns to the friendly confines of Gentile Arena next week to host Bradley (January 17) and Illinois State (January 19).