In Short…
Loyola University Chicago battled Mid-American Conference (MAC) preseason favorite Central Michigan for all 40 minutes, but reigning MAC Player of the Year Micaela Kelly poured in 23 points as the Chippewas held on for a 73-64 victory this afternoon inside Gentile Arena.  Today's result from Rogers Park moves Central Michigan to 4-2 (2-0 MAC), while the Maroon & Gold slip to 2-2.
 
How It Happened
Allison Day looked to pick up right where she left off following Friday's win, finishing inside on each of Loyola's first two possessions to give the Ramblers a quick 4-0 lead.  With the Loyola lead sitting at 7-5 after an Ellie Rice three, Central Michigan rattled off nine straight points, all of which came from beyond the arc, to open up a 14-7 lead just past the midway point of the first quarter.  A Rice mid-range score closed the gap to 14-13 just under two minutes later, but Central Michigan would manage to take a 20-17 edge into the second frame.
 
Rice connected again from outside to knot the game up at 25-25 with 7:25 remaining in the first half.  A Kelly layup on the Chippewas ensuing possession ignited an 11-0 Central Michigan surge that gave the visitors their largest lead of the day, 36-25, at the 5:04 mark.  Loyola answered right back with a spurt of its own, as a Bre Hampton-Bey layup kick-started a 9-0 Loyola spurt that closed the gap to two, 36-34.  Sophia Karasinski knocked down a three-point field goal with only 37 seconds remaining, snapping a 4:27 scoreless stretch by Central Michigan, as the Chippewas headed into halftime with a 41-34 advantage.
 
Maya Chandler looked to get Loyola off and running coming out of the locker room, connecting on a jumper that trimmed the margin to 41-36 with just 21 seconds gone.  Central Michigan would again look to distance itself, with two Kelly makes from the line pushing the lead back to double digits, 49-38.  Another Rice trey with 4:26 remaining clawed the Ramblers within six, 49-43, but a Kelly layup in the waning seconds of the third quarter extended the Central Michigan lead to eight, 59-51.
 
Following another Kelly score that reestablished an 11-point margin, 66-55, buckets on consecutive trips from Day and Hampton-Bey, respectively, brought Loyola within seven, 66-59, with only six minutes to play in regulation.  A steal and score from Sam Galanopoulos at the 2:09 mark trimmed the deficit to 70-64, but Loyola would go scoreless for the remainder of the afternoon, as Central Michigan hung on for a victory.
 
Inside The Box Score
- For the second time in as many games, Day paced the Loyola attack, finishing with 17 points (7-10 FGs, 1-2 3FGs, 2-3 FTs), three rebounds, a season-best four assists, and a block.
- Rice was hot on her heels, adding a season-high 15 points (5-14 FGs, 3-7 3FGs, 2-2 FTs) in addition to a team-high six rebounds. 
- Hampton-Bey provided the Ramblers with a lift off the bench, chipping in 12 points (3-8 FGs, 6-6 FTs), five rebounds, and a pair of assists.
- Kelly led a group of four players in double figures for Central Michigan with her aforementioned 23-point effort (9-13 FGs, 1-5 3FGs, 4-4 FTs).
- The Chippewas made their presence felt from outside, connecting on 11 of their 28 three-point field goal attempts.
 
Up Next
Loyola will turn its attention towards Missouri Valley Conference play, which begins when Indiana State visits Gentile Arena for a two-game series, January 1-2.  The New Year's Day tilt with the Sycamores is set for a 12 p.m. tip, while the following day's matchup will begin at 1 p.m.