In Short…
Tiara Wallace reached double figures in scoring for the third time in as many games, but Southern Illinois (16-12, 8-9 MVC) closed regulation on a 17-3 run as it handed Loyola University Chicago (15-13, 6-11 MVC) a 58-41 defeat this evening at Banterra Center in Carbondale, Ill.
 
How It Happened
After seeing Southern Illinois jump out to a 4-0 lead with just over two minutes gone, an Abby O'Connor jumper in the paint with 7:24 to play put Loyola on the board, 4-2.  Wallace finished inside shortly after the midway point of the frame to knot the game up at 8-8, but Makenzie Silvey answered with a triple on the Salukis' ensuing possession as Southern Illinois took a 14-12 lead into the second quarter.
 
Janae Gonzales connected from beyond the three-point arc only 12 seconds into the second frame to put Loyola in front, 15-14.  Following a Nicole Martin post score that edged Southern Illinois back on top, 16-15, scores on consecutive trips from Ellie Rice and O'Connor staked the Maroon & Gold to a 19-16 lead with 7:22 remaining.  The Salukis' responded with a 15-0 surge, opening up a 33-21 advantage at halftime.
 
After Loyola had struggled to make a dent in its deficit in the early stages of the third quarter, Anna Brown drained a deep three with 4:26 to go, sparking a 7-0 Rambler run that was capped off by a Sam Galanopoulos layup which pulled Loyola within three, 38-35, at the 1:28 mark.  That margin would hold heading into the third quarter, as Southern Illinois clung to a 39-36 lead.
 
Martin knocked down a jumper inside early on in the fourth quarter to stretch Southern Illinois' lead back to five, 41-36.  A bucket from Rice snapped a quarter-opening 3:16 drought for Loyola, trimming the hosts' lead back to three, 41-38.  Payton McCallister knocked down a key three on the Salukis' next trip down the floor, laying the groundwork for an 8-0 spurt that pushed the gap back into double digits, 49-38.  Wallace converted on an old-fashioned three-point play to cut the margin to eight, 49-41, but Loyola would get no closer, as Southern Illinois pulled away down the stretch.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Wallace finished her night with a team-best 14 points (5-14 FGs, 4-5 FTs) in addition to three rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
- O'Connor ripped down nine rebounds and also added four points (2-11 FGs).
- Martin led Southern Illinois with a game-high 16 points (5-9 FGs, 6-10 FTs).
 
Up Next
Loyola wraps up the 2019-20 regular season on Saturday with a 2 p.m. tilt with No. 23/21 Missouri State at JQH Arena in Springfield, Mo.