EVANSTON, Ill. (November 17, 2021)
 
In Short…
Loyola University Chicago (1-2) battled for all 40 minutes, but could not overcome 26 turnovers and a rough night on the offensive end as it dropped a 63-47 decision to host Northwestern (3-0) this evening at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill.   
 
How It Happened
Buckets on consecutive trips from Maya Chandler and Allison Day sent Loyola out to an early 4-3 lead with 88 seconds gone.  After seeing Northwestern edge back in front, 8-4, Chandler dialed in from beyond the three-point arc to pull the Ramblers within one, 8-7.  The hosts responded with a 13-1 run, surging out to a 21-8 lead en route to holding a 25-10 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Maroon & Gold wasted no time in chipping their deficit back down to single digits, opening the second frame on a 6-0 spurt, capped off by a Day bucket that trimmed the gap to 25-16 and prompted a Wildcat timeout at the 7:41 mark.  Loyola went cold from the field following the stoppage, going scoreless for seven minutes, but leaned on its defense to stay within shouting distance.  Janae Gonzales drilled a triple in the closing minute of the half to snap the drought and cut the Northwestern lead to 31-19 at halftime.
 
Gonzales connected again from distance just over three minutes into the third quarter to pull Loyola within 34-22.  Following a split at the free throw line by Day that made it 34-23, Northwestern took off on an 11-0 run, punctuated by a Paige Mott layup, to push the margin to 45-23 with 3:22 to go.  Gonzales hit on her second trey of the frame at the 1:45 mark to snap another scoreless stretch, as Loyola stared down a 45-28 deficit heading to the fourth quarter.
 
Following a Veronica Burton bucket with 4:19 to play in regulation that gave Northwestern its largest lead of the night, 61-36, Loyola closed with a flurry.  An old-fashioned three-point play from Bre Hampton-Bey sparked a game-ending 11-2 run that saw the Maroon & Gold pull back within 16 at the final horn.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Gonzales connected on four threes to lead Loyola with 12 points (4-12 FGs, 4-11 3FGs) as the Ramblers finished the night at just over 29 percent (16-for-55) from the field.  Tonight marked the Tolleson, Ariz. native's 16^th game in her career with at least three triples.
- Day ripped down a game-high 12 rebounds and added 10 points (3-10 FGs, 4-8 FTs) to post her ninth career double-double.
- Sam Galanopoulos handed out five assists, leading the Ramblers in the category, in addition to five points (2-8 FGs, 1-4 3FGs), a rebound, and two steals.
- After seeing Northwestern operate at a red-hot 73 percent clip (11-for-15) during the first quarter, Loyola held the hosts to just 26 percent (10-for-38) the rest of the way, as the Wildcats finished the night at 39 percent (21-for-53) from the field.
- Burton paced Northwestern with 16 points (5-10 FGs, 2-3 3FGs, 4-4 FTs) and seven assists.
 
Up Next
Loyola opens a three-game homestand on Saturday, November 20 when it entertains Chicago State in a 12 p.m. tip-off inside Gentile Arena.