SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (December 31, 2021)
 
In Short…
Loyola University Chicago was held to just 24 percent shooting (12-for-50) as it fell to Missouri State by a final count of 55-38 this afternoon in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams inside JQH Arena in Springfield, Mo.  Today's result moves the Lady Bears to 10-2 overall (1-0 MVC), while the Ramblers slip to 8-4 (0-1 MVC).
 
How It Happened
Julia Hoefling got the Ramblers on the board with just under two minutes gone, finishing inside to cancel out Abigayle Jackson's bucket on the other end and tie the game at 2-2.  Loyola went scoreless for the next 7:29, but was able to stay within shouting distance thanks to its work on the defensive end, pulling back within five at the end of the first quarter thanks to a Trinity Clinton trey that made it 10-5.
 
Missouri State started the second quarter on fire, opening on a 10-0 run to expand its lead to 20-5 and prompt a Loyola timeout at the 5:21 mark.  Clinton provided a spark down the stretch in the first half, rattling off five of the Maroon & Gold's last nine points to help trim the Lady Bears' lead back down to single digits at the intermission, 26-18.
 
Allison Day connected from beyond the three-point arc inside the first 90 seconds of the third quarter to cut the gap to seven, 28-21.  Missouri State mounted another push, stretching its lead back into double figures, 36-23, on consecutive layups by Mariah White and Jackson.  Loyola chipped the lead down to nine, 36-27, on a long two from Sitori Tanin, but would go scoreless for the final 4:34 of the frame as Missouri State pushed its lead back out to 15 and never looked back en route to victory.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Making her first collegiate appearance, Clinton paced Loyola on the afternoon with nine points (3-6 FGs, 2-2 3FGs, 1-2 FTs).
- Day added seven points (3-12 FGs, 1-3 3FGs) and five rebounds, while Hoefling chipped in six points (2-4 FGs, 2-2 FTs) in addition to a team-high eight rebounds.
- Despite its struggles offensively, Loyola held Missouri State to just under 32 percent (22-for-69) from the field, marking the sixth time in seven games the Ramblers have kept an opponent under the 40 percent mark.
- Isabelle Delarue led all scorers with 13 points (5-10 FGs, 3-7 3FGs) for Missouri State.
 
Up Next
Loyola rings in calendar year 2022 on Sunday, January 2 with a noon tilt against Southern Illinois inside Banterra Center in Carbondale, Ill.