CHICAGO (December 7, 2021) – Following a split of its East Coast road swing over the weekend, Loyola University Chicago (5-3) returns to the friendly confines of Gentile Arena on Wednesday evening to welcome in-state rival Eastern Illinois for a 7 p.m. tip-off.

The Ramblers have been dominant in Rogers Park this season, boasting an unblemished 4-0 home record while having outscored opponents by just under 22 points per contest.  With a win over the Panthers, Loyola would achieve its first 5-0 start to a home slate since the 2010-11 season.

LAST TIME OUT
Loyola saw its four-game win streak brought to an end in a 72-62 setback at Vermont this past Sunday.  Allison Day finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds en route to her second double-double of the year, as the Ramblers whittled a 19-point third-quarter deficit down to just five points in the fourth quarter.

LOYOLA/EASTERN ILLINOIS – THE SERIES
Wednesday's matchup marks the 19th meeting between Loyola and Eastern Illinois, a series that dates back to a 74-73 Panther victory back on January 30, 1981 inside Alumni Gym.  The two in-state rivals have split the previous 18 encounters, but the Ramblers have had the upper hand of late, winning each of the last three matchups.

When Loyola and Eastern Illinois last met on November 13, 2019 at Lantz Arena in Charleston, Ill., Janae Gonzales drilled seven threes as part of a game-best 24-point effort in a 67-51 win for the Maroon & Gold. After falling into an early nine-point hole, the Ramblers turned in a terrific defensive effort, holding the Panthers to under 26 percent from the field over the final 30 minutes of play.

PANTHERS CHARGING ON
Like Loyola, Eastern Illinois split a pair of games last weekend, falling to Southern Illinois, 74-66, before picking up an 87-81 win over Northern Illinois in the Compass Challenge.  Saturday's win against the Huskies snapped a four-game skid for the Panthers, who own a 5-4 record (.556) on the year.

Picked seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Preseason Poll, head coach Matt Bollant's team is coming off an 11-15 campaign (9-11 OVC) in 2020-21.

Preseason All-OVC honorees Lariah Washington and Abby Wahl are both off to great starts this season.  Washington leads the Panthers in scoring, averaging 15.2 points, while Wahl is close behind, adding 12.0 points per outing along with a team-high 5.2 rebounds per game.  Kira Arthofer also scores in double figures, contributing 10.7 points.

UP NEXT
Loyola opens up a four-game road trip on Saturday, December 11 when it visits Mount Pleasant, Mich. to take on Central Michigan at 12 p.m. (CT).