In Short…
For the second time in as many seasons, Loyola University Chicago gave No. 24/23 DePaul all it could handle, taking a lead into the fourth quarter, but the host Blue Demons erupted for a 15-0 run during the final frame that proved to be the difference, ultimately escaping Wintrust Arena with a 76-67 victory this afternoon.  Today's result moves DePaul back to the .500 mark at 2-2, while the Ramblers drop to 1-1.
 
How It Happened
DePaul, which entered the afternoon boasting one of the nation's top offensive attacks, looked to get off to a quick start, jumping out to a 7-2 lead following a Deja Church old-fashioned three-point play with 7:33 to play in the first quarter.  Loyola answered back with scores on consecutive trips from Anna Brown and Ellie Rice to close the margin to one, 11-10, just past the midway point of the frame.  An Allison Day triple in the final minute vaulted Loyola in front, 17-16, but Darrione Rogers responded with a three of her own as time expired, putting DePaul back on top, 19-17.
 
With the Blue Demons' lead sitting at 22-17 following a Dee Bekelja trey, Loyola turned up its intensity on the defensive end, holding the hosts scoreless for over five minutes, as it took off on an 11-0 run that was capped off by a Janae Gonzales three that put the Maroon & Gold up six, 28-22, with just under four minutes remaining in the half.  DePaul battled back, pulling even on a pair of separate occasions down the stretch, before retaking the lead, 35-34, on a Kendall Homes three at the halftime buzzer.
 
Following back-to-back Sonya Morris jumpers that put DePaul up by a 41-38 margin, Loyola was again able to force the Blue Demons into a lengthy scoreless stretch, as it rattled off a 9-0 spurt, punctuated by a Rice layup, that again put the Ramblers up six, 47-41, with 2:52 remaining.  A pair of makes by Day at the free throw line with just 18 seconds to play sent Loyola into the fourth quarter with a 53-47 advantage.
 
DePaul wasted little time in chipping away at Loyola's lead in the final frame.  Layups by Church and Morris, respectively, cut the margin to 53-51 and prompted a Rambler timeout with just a minute gone.  With Loyola holding on to a 59-57 edge following two Kat Nolan free throws, DePaul took off on its aforementioned surge, holding the Maroon & Gold scoreless for 4:19, as took its largest lead of the game, 72-59, with just 1:09 remaining.  Loyola would pull within nine on three separate occasions in the game's final minute, but could get no closer as DePaul held on for its second victory of the season.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Maya Chandler turned in another impressive outing to lead the Ramblers on the afternoon, finishing with a team-high 14 points (5-10 FGs, 4-4 FTs).
- Day chipped in 11 points (4-9 FGs, 1-1 3FGs, 4-4 FTs) to go along with nine rebounds, a block, and two steals.
- Rice rounded out Loyola's trio in double figures with 10 points (5-11 FGs) in addition to seven rebounds and a career-high tying six assists.
- Morris led all scorers with 26 points (9-20 FGs, 1-6 3FGs, 7-8 FTs) for DePaul, who cashed in for 23 points off 26 Loyola turnovers on the afternoon.
 
Up Next
Loyola makes its first appearance of the 2020-21 season at Gentile Arena on Friday evening when it plays host to Purdue Northwest at 7 p.m.