CHICAGO (November 8, 2021) – Coming off its first postseason appearance, Loyola University Chicago officially begins the 2021-22 season on Tuesday when it welcomes former Horizon league and fellow Jesuit institution Detroit Mercy to Gentile Arena. Tip-off between the Ramblers and Titans is set for 4 p.m.
2021-22 PREVIEW
Loyola finished last season at 12-15 overall (8-10 MVC) en route to earning a bid to the the Women's Basketball Invitational, the first postseason appearance in program history. Now in her sixth year in Rogers Park, head coach
Kate Achter returns a group of 11 letterwinners that accounted for over 80 percent of the team's offensive output a season ago. That core includes four returning All-Missouri Valley Conference honorees, highlighted by First Team All-Valley pick
Allison Day, who led the Maroon & Gold in both scoring (11.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.9 rpg). Fresh off an MVC All-Newcomer Team nod last season,
Bre Hampton-Bey looks set for a terrific final campaign in Rogers Park after averaging 7.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 2020-21. Loyola also welcomes back two MVC All-Freshman Team honorees in reigning MVC Freshman of the Year
Maya Chandler (8.7 ppg) and
Sitori Tanin (5.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg). Last season marked the fourth straight year that the Ramblers have been represented amongst the league's top rookies.
LOYOLA – DETROIT MERCY – THE SERIES
Former rivals in the Horizon League, Loyola and Detroit Mercy will battle for the 71st time in Tuesday's regular season opener in Rogers Park. The Titans own a 47-23 (.671) edge in the previous 70 encounters, but the Maroon & Gold have prevailed in each of the last three matchups between the Jesuit foes.
When the two teams last met back on November 5, 2019 inside Callahan Hall, Janae Gonzales matched a single-game program record with nine three-point field goals as part of a 29-point effort that helped see Loyola to a dominant 89-60 triumph.
HERE COME THE TITANS
Detroit Mercy features a roster compromised of 14 newcomers and no returning letterwinners following a shortened 2020-21 season in which the Titans finished 1-13 overall (1-9 Horizon League). Interim head coach LaTanya Collins' side was picked to finish 12th in the Horizon League Preseason Poll.
Detroit Mercy is coming off a 73-66 setback to Wayne State in its lone exhibition on November 4 in The Motor City. Monique Pruitt (15 points), Janna Lewis (14 points), Sydney Searcy (11 points), and Tori Powell (11 points) all reached double figures in scoring in the loss.
UP NEXT
Loyola opens up a two-game road swing on Friday, November 12 when it heads south to Wintrust Arena to take on rv/rv DePaul in a 7 p.m. tip-off.
