In Short…
A conventional three-point play by Shay Frederick with just 5.2 seconds remaining capped off a stunning comeback as Valparaiso (11-7, 3-4 MVC) erased a 12-point deficit in the final 3:45 of regulation to hand Loyola University Chicago a 66-64 defeat this evening at the Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso, Ind.  Tonight's defeat, Loyola's first on the road this season, brings the Ramblers to 13-5 overall (4-3 MVC).
 
How It Happened
A pair of early threes from Abby O'Connor and Janae Gonzales sent Loyola out to a 6-2 lead with just over 90 seconds gone in the first quarter.  Both teams would have their struggles on the offensive end during the opening frame, combining for eight turnovers.  Caitlin Morrison got off to a hot start for the hosts, hitting each of her first four attempts from the field, the last of which was a three with only 25 seconds remaining to put Valparaiso on top, 17-15.
 
Loyola locked in defensively in the second quarter, holding the Crusaders to only 1-of-13 shooting.  An acrobatic finish by Jala Johnson in traffic sent Loyola back in front, 20-19, just past the midway point of the quarter.  O'Connor drained a mid-range jumper at the 2:35 mark to snap a lengthy scoreless drought on both sides as the Maroon & Gold closed the half with a 9-0 run to race into halftime with a 27-19 advantage.
 
Valparaiso continued to hang tough throughout the middle stages of the third quarter.  With the Loyola lead sitting at 39-31, Sam Galanopoulos connected with Allison Day inside to help spark an 8-0 surge that was capped off by an O'Connor finish inside which gave the Ramblers their largest lead of the night, 45-31, and prompted a Crusader timeout.  Frederick drained a three on Valparaiso's final possession of the third quarter, pulling the Crusaders back within 45-34.
 
Loyola seemed to have an answer for every Valparaiso push early in the fourth quarter, with an O'Connor trey at the 3:45 mark extending the lead to 57-45 after the Crusaders had battled back to down seven only three minutes before.  Valparaiso once again found its way back through its outside shooting.  Morrison and Frederick each connected from beyond the three-point arc over a 21-second span to cut the gap to four, 60-56, with just over a minute to play.  Following an offensive foul which gave possession back to Valparaiso with Loyola clinging to a 64-63 lead with only 12 seconds remaining, Frederick finished after contact, completing a three-point play to give the Crusaders a 66-64 lead.  A runner by Wallace with time ticking down went array, as Valparaiso hung on for a victory.
 
Inside The Box Score
- O'Connor led Loyola on the night with 16 points (5-8 FGs, 2-4 3FGs, 4-8 FTs) in addition to seven rebounds and two blocks.
- Johnson fell just a point shy of matching her season-high, chipping in 12 points (5-7 FGs, 2-2 FTs). 
- Tiara Wallace ripped down a career-high tying 11 rebounds, also adding eight points (3-9 FGs, 2-6 FTs) and four assists.
- Galanopoulos dished out a team-high five helpers to go along with nine points (4-7 FGs, 1-2 3FGs), six rebounds, and a steal.
- Loyola struggled from the free throw line, going just 14-of-27 (51.9%) from the charity stripe, a mark which included a 5-of-12 (41.7%) ledger during the fourth quarter.
- Frederick led all scorers with 21 points (7-14 FGs, 2-5 3FGs, 5-5 FTs), 14 of which came in the fourth quarter alone.
 
Up Next
Loyola closes out the first half of its Missouri Valley Conference schedule next weekend when it visits Iowa to take on UNI (January 31) and Drake (February 2).