PEORIA, Ill. (January 23, 2021) –
 
In Short…
Loyola University Chicago (5-4, 3-2 MVC) fell just short of erasing an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit this afternoon as it dropped a 57-55 decision to Bradley (10-5, 6-2 MVC) inside Renaissance Coliseum in Peoria, Ill.
 
How It Happened
Loyola got off to a slow start offensively, missing on its first four attempts from the field before a Jala Johnson second-chance bucket snapped the drought and trimmed Bradley's lead to 7-4 at the 5:38 mark.  Following a triple from Tatum Koenig that stretched the margin to 10-4, threes by Anna Brown and Sam Galanopoulos provided the bookends to an 11-2 run that pushed the Ramblers in front, 15-12, with a minute remaining.  Bradley would hit on only one of its last six attempts in the quarter, as Loyola held a 16-13 edge after the opening 10 minutes.
 
A reverse layup by Bre Hampton-Bey with just under three minutes gone in the second quarter reestablished a three-point lead for Loyola, 21-18.  Anna Brown's second triple of the day stretched the lead to four, 24-20, before Bradley rattled off six unanswered points, the last three of which came on another Koenig trey, to slip back on top, 26-24, with 4:23 to play in the half.  Buckets from Allison Day and Maya Chandler, respectively, regained the lead for the Maroon & Gold, 28-26, with the Ramblers taking a slim 29-28 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
Chandler knocked down a mid-range jumper 32 seconds into the second half to briefly push the lead to 31-28, but Koenig connected again from beyond the three-point arc on Bradley's ensuing possession to knot the game up at 31-31.  Koenig stayed hot, hitting her fifth three of the game at the 5:52 mark to give Bradley a 36-33 advantage.  A Nyjah White layup pushed the margin to six, 41-35, which would consequently be the spread at the end of the third quarter, as the Braves held a 43-37 edge.
 
Bradley looked to create separation early on in the final frame, opening up its largest lead of the game, 48-40, on a White finish inside.  Loyola answered back with a 7-0 run that was highlighted by a Chandler three and a steal and score by Galanopoulos that made it a one-point game, 48-47 with 3:41 remaining in regulation.  Bradley was able to push the margin back out to six, 55-49, after a Koenig split at the line with 22 seconds to play.  Chandler nearly willed Loyola back into it, hitting on two threes inside the final 18 seconds, the last of which pulled the Ramblers within two, 57-55, with three seconds remaining.  Following an intentional foul by Loyola, Koenig came up empty on two attempts at the line, but the Ramblers were unable to get up a final shot, as Bradley hung on to secure a split in the weekend series.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Chandler reached double figures in scoring for the fifth time in nine appearances, scoring a career-best 16 points (6-14 FGs, 3-5 3FGs, 1-2 FTs) to pace Loyola.
- Hampton-Bey narrowly missed out on a double-double, closing the day with nine points (2-7 FGs, 5-8 FTs), nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
- For the second time in as many days, Loyola again turned in a stout defensive effort, limiting Bradley to just under 33 percent (19-of-58) shooting as a team.
- Rice, who added seven points (2-7 FGs, 3-4 FTs), again put forth another terrific individual defensive showing, limiting MVC Preseason Player of the Year Lasha Petree to nine points (2-11 FGs, 5-5 FTs).
- Koenig finished 16 points (5-7 FGs, 5-6 3FGs, 1-4 FTs) to lead Bradley.
 
Up Next
Loyola opens up a four-game homestand next weekend when it entertains Southern Illinois at Gentile Arena, January 30-31.