CHICAGO (February 4, 2020) – Loyola University Chicago (13-7, 4-5 MVC) looks to get back on track this week as it welcomes a pair of opponents from the state of Indiana to Gentile Arena to begin the second half of its Missouri Valley Conference schedule. 

Indiana State will provide the opposition on Thursday evening at 7 p.m., before a 2 p.m. matinee with Evansville wraps up a brief two-game homestand on Saturday afternoon.  The matchup against the Purple Aces will serve as the program's annual Alumni Day and Play4Kay Game.


LAST TIME OUT
Loyola dropped two games in Iowa this past weekend, falling to both UNI, 70-50, and Drake, 80-52.  Tiara Wallace led the Maroon & Gold against the Panthers, finishing with a team-high 10 points in addition to four assists and two blocks, while Sam Galanopoulos matched her season high scoring output in Sunday's weekend finale versus the Bulldogs, finishing with 13 points, three rebounds, and three assists. 

LOYOLA – INDIANA STATE – THE SERIES
Loyola has rattled off three consecutive wins over Indiana State to trim the Sycamores' lead in the all-time series to 12-7 (.632).  Prior to the Maroon & Gold's current run, Indiana State, which is 4-4 (.500) in its previous visits to Gentile Arena, had won six straight games against Loyola.  Led by a 12-point effort from Janae Gonzales, Loyola grinded out a 58-51 win over Indiana State back on January 12 at Hulman Center.  The Ramblers were held to just under 38 percent shooting by the Sycamores, but limited the hosts to a 35 percent clip at the other end of the floor. CeCe Mayo paced Indiana State in the defeat with a game-high 15 points.  



LOYOLA – EVANSVILLE – THE SERIES
Former rivals in the Midwestern City Conference, now known as the Horizon League, Loyola and Evansville will battle for the 39th time on Saturday afternoon.  The Ramblers have won each of the past six meetings and four of the last five in Rogers Park to open up a 26-12 (.684) advantage in the all-time series.  When the two teams met on January 10 inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse, Abby O'Connor scored 19 of her game-high 21 points in the second half and collected 12 rebounds as Loyola held off Evansville to pick up a 71-61 victory.  Allison Day also finished with a double-double, adding 16 points and 12 rebounds.  Anna Newman led Evansville with 17 points.



CAN'T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES
Indiana State picked up a 68-58 win over Evansville last Friday in Terre Haute, Ind. to snap a 16-game skid and improve to 3-18 overall and 1-8 in Missouri Valley Conference play.  Del'Janae Williams led a trio of Sycamores to score in double figures in the win with 16 points, while Jamyra McChristine ripped down a team-best 13 rebounds.  McChristine has spearheaded the attack for second-year head coach Vicki Hall's team, a group which features a completely revamped roster. Since the start of Valley play, McChristine has led the Sycamores in both scoring (10.8 ppg) and rebounding (6.9 rpg).  Williams is the team's leader in assists, handing out 2.4 helpers per contest across 20 appearances.



PLAYING CARDS
Following its aforementioned setback to Indiana State, Evansville enters the week at 3-17, a record that includes an 0-9 ledger in Valley action.  The Purple Aces, who take on Valparaiso Thursday night, are mired in a 10-game losing streak that dates back to a 72-64 defeat to Miami (Ohio) back on December 22, 2019.  Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Matt Ruffing, Evansville is led by freshman standout Abby Feit, who averages 14.5 points and 8.4 rebounds, both of which are team-high marks.  Lamar transfer Lola Bracy has also enjoyed a strong debut season with the Purple Aces, adding 12.6 points per game in her 11 appearances.


UP NEXT
Loyola is back on the road next weekend, as it visits Central Illinois for tilts with Illinois State (February 14) and Bradley (February 16).