CHICAGO (February 20, 2020) – Loyola University Chicago (15-9, 6-7 MVC) will open up its final homestand of the 2019-20 season on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. when it plays host to Valparaiso inside Gentile Arena for the program's inaugural Pride Day in partnership with the Loyola men's volleyball team.

Loyola and Valparaiso come into the week tied for sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference standings, both sitting as part of a pack that sees the fourth through eighth spots separated by just 1.5 games.



LAST TIME OUT
Loyola is coming off a pair of setbacks in Central Illinois last weekend.  The Ramblers dropped an 86-85 double-overtime thriller to Illinois State on Friday in Normal, Ill., before falling by a final count of 71-50 to Bradley two days later inside Renaissance Coliseum.  Tiara Wallace turned in her second standout effort in as many games against the Redbirds, finishing with 22 points, seven rebounds, a career-high tying nine assists, and three steals.  Sam Galanopoulos paced the Maroon & Gold in Sunday's weekend finale in Peoria, Ill., coming off the bench to add 12 points.

LOYOLA – VALPARAISO – THE SERIES
Former rivals in the Horizon League, Loyola and Valparaiso will battle for the 30th time on Saturday afternoon in Rogers Park.  The Crusaders own a 23-6 (.793) lead in the all-time series, picking up victories in five of the previous six matchups.  Valparaiso used a late rally to stun Loyola, 66-64, back on January 24 at the Athletics-Recreation Center. Abby O'Connor finished with a team-high 16 points to lead the Ramblers, while Jala Johnson also chipped in 11 points.  Shay Frederick, who converted on a three-point play with just 5.2 seconds remaining to ultimately clinch a victory for Valparaiso, poured in a game-high 21 points.



SCOUTING VALPARAISO
Valparaiso enters today's matchup at 14-10 (.583) overall and 6-7 (.462) in Valley play.  After coming up on the short end of a 90-69 decision at Bradley last Friday, second-year head coach Mary Evans' team picked up an impressive 78-70 victory over Illinois State Sunday afternoon at Redbird Arena behind a career-high 25 points from Addison Stoller.  Grace Hales leads Valparaiso in scoring at 12.6 points per game, with Stoller joining her in double figures at 12.0 ppg.  Stoller also grabs a team-high 5.6 rebounds per game for a Crusader team that ranks at the bottom of the MVC in the category (29.7 rpg). Valparaiso has made its living from beyond the three-point arc this season, launching 211 attempts from distance, a mark that is tied for The Valley lead, en route to knocking down an MVC-best 8.8 triples per game.



UP NEXT
Loyola is back home next weekend when it hosts Drake (February 28) and UNI (March 1) to close out its 2019-20 home slate.  Senior Day festivities will precede the home finale with the Panthers.