MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (December 11, 2021)
 
In Short…
Sam Galanopoulos and Bre Hampton-Bey both turned in standout efforts as Loyola University Chicago (7-3) got its four-game road trip off to a great start, rolling to a 69-48 win over Central Michigan (2-6) this afternoon inside McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
 
How It Happened
Loyola started fast, jumping out to an early 6-0 lead behind four quick points from Hampton-Bey.  Molly Davis snapped a game-opening 4:38 scoreless stretch for Central Michigan with a triple that cut the margin to 6-3, but Maya Chandler responded shortly after with eight straight points, capped off by a trey of her own that made it 15-7 with just under three minutes left in the first quarter.  Hampton-Bey put an exclamation point on the frame, going coast-to-coast with only four seconds remaining to push the lead into double digits, 17-7.
 
After seeing the Chippewas pull within five, 17-12, Galanopoulos drained her first of two second-quarter threes before Julia Hoefling converted in the post to reestablish a 10-point gap, 22-12, and prompt a Central Michigan timeout with three minutes gone.  The hosts continued to hang tough, as back-to-back scores in the paint by Jahari Smith trimmed Loyola's lead to 22-18 and forced a Rambler timeout.  The Maroon & Gold finished the half with a flurry, going on a 9-2 run that was fueled by five points from Galanopoulos, to charge into halftime with a 31-20 edge.
 
Central Michigan looked to find an avenue back into the game from outside, as Tiana Timpe buried treys on consecutive possessions to bring the hosts back within seven, 33-26, with 8:20 to play in the third quarter.  Hampton-Bey helped stem the tide with back-to-back scores ahead of a conventional three-point play by Allison Day that pushed the lead to 40-26 just before the midway point.  Anna Brown provided a lift off the bench, knocking down a pair of third threes, while Galanopoulos capped off the frame with another trey of her own to stake the Ramblers to a 53-39 advantage.
 
Loyola kept its foot on the gas in the fourth quarter.  A pair of Sitori Tanin scores, the second of which came off a nifty find from Galanopoulos, stretched the gap to 59-41 with 6:40 remaining in regulation.  Galanopoulos stayed hot from outside, adding two more triples before all was said and done as Loyola rolled to a sixth win in seven games.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Galanopoulos closed her day with a game-high 17 points (6-11 FGs, 5-5 3FGs), matching her career high set during a 71-66 win over Bradley back on January 22, 2021.
- Less than three days removed from cracking the 1,000-point mark for her career, Hampton-Bey poured in a season-best 16 points (7-12 FGs, 2-2 FTs).
- Led by Galanopoulos and Hampton-Bey, Loyola finished at 47.5 percent (29-for-51) from the field, a mark that included a scintillating 61.5 percent clip (8-for-13) from beyond the three-point arc.
- Tanin was a force on the glass, ripping down a career-high 11 rebounds in addition to eight points (4-10 FGs).
- Hoefling continued her great work on the defensive end, finishing with a game-best three blocks.  She now has four games this season with at least three rejections.
- Loyola's tenacious defense was on full display yet again, as Central Michigan operated at 36.4 percent (20-for-55) from the field while being forced into 12 turnovers.
- The Ramblers have now held four opponents this season under the 50-point mark.
- Timpe led the Chippewas with 15 points (5-9 FGs, 5-6 3FGs).
 
Up Next
After taking the coming week off for final exams, Loyola closes out non-conference play on the road at Cleveland State on Tuesday, December 21.