CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (January 31, 2020)

In Short…
UNI (12-7, 4-4 MVC) used a 10-0 run spanning the first and second quarters to seize control as it dealt Loyola University Chicago a 70-50 setback this evening inside the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa.  Tonight's defeat sees the Ramblers fall to 13-6 overall (4-4 MVC).
 
How It Happened
After Karli Rucker and Tiara Wallace traded buckets in the game's opening minutes, a Megan Maahs triple with 7:09 to play gave UNI a 5-2 lead.  A conventional three-point play from Kristina Cavey pushed the margin to seven, 13-6, at the 4:01 mark.  Abby O'Connor finished inside with just over three minutes remaining to trim the gap to 13-8, but five straight points from Rucker to finish the frame stretched the UNI lead to 18-8.
 
The Panthers picked up right where they left off to open the second quarter, with an Abby Gerrits trey pushing the lead to 23-8, prompting a Loyola timeout with 1:04 gone.  Ellie Rice connected on a three of her own with 7:46 remaining to snap the hosts' run and cut the deficit to 23-11, but UNI kept its foot on the gas, racing into the locker room with a 43-18 lead.
 
Loyola began to find its footing on the offensive end coming out of the intermission, shooting just under 42 percent (13-of-31) from the field during the second half.  Kat Nolan knocked down a three-point field goal with 6:12 remaining in the third quarter to pull the Ramblers within 47-27.  An O'Connor mid-range jumper three minutes later sliced the margin to 49-31 before UNI rattled off the frame's final six points to open up a 55-31 advantage.
 
Wallace was the first Rambler in double figures following a bucket at the 7:37 mark of the fourth quarter that made it 63-37.  A driving score by Sam Galanopoulos dropped the gap to 66-48 with just 3:17 to play, but that proved to be as close as Loyola would get for the remainder of the evening, as UNI remained perfect on its home floor.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Wallace led the Maroon & Gold on the night with 10 points (5-8 FGs) in addition to team-high marks in assists (4) and blocks (2).
- Galanopoulos came off the bench to chip in six points (2-6 FGs, 2-3 FTs), three rebounds, two assists, and a block.
- UNI jumped out to its early lead thanks in large part to its work on the defensive end, as it held Loyola to just 27 percent (8-of-30) shooting in the opening 20 minutes of play.
- Rucker led all scorers with 15 points (6-13 FGs, 2-5 FGs, 1-2 FTs).
 
Up Next
Loyola heads west to Des Moines, Iowa for a 2 p.m. matchup with Drake on Sunday afternoon.