EVANSVILLE, Ind. (February 13, 2021)
 
In Short…
Loyola University Chicago opened play on an 18-2 run and never looked back, as it cruised to a 61-31 victory over Evansville (5-11, 1-10 MVC) tonight at Meeks Family Fieldhouse in Evansville, Ind.  Tonight's win, Loyola's ninth straight over the Purple Aces, moves the Ramblers to 7-4 in Missouri Valley Conference play (9-6 overall), marking the program's highest win total in a Valley season since the 2015-16 campaign.
 
How It Happened
For the second time in as many nights, Loyola's defense set the tone, holding the hosts to just 1-of-14 shooting in the first quarter.  An Allison Day jumper 51 seconds in got Loyola off and running, 2-0.  A'Niah Griffin accounted for Evansville's lone make from the field in the opening frame at the 7:41 mark, trimming the Rambler lead to 5-2, but Sam Galanopoulos and Ellie Rice answered with makes from beyond the three-point arc to push the margin to 11-2.  Another Galanopoulos triple with 1:55 to go stretched the lead to 18-2, as the Maroon & Gold held a commanding 18-4 advantage after the opening 10 minutes of play.
 
Buckets from Day and Kat Nolan stretched the gap to 22-4 with just under two minutes gone in the second quarter.  Evansville looked to battle back, with an Abby Feit score pulling the Purple Aces within 23-11 with 2:23 to go in the half.  Loyola answered back with the night's next five points, three of which came on an old-fashioned three-point play by Day, to charge into halftime with a 28-13 lead.
 
As was the case to begin the evening, Loyola again limited Evansville to under 10 percent from the field in the third quarter, holding to the Purple Aces to just one make on their 11 tries.  Rice connected on a pair of threes in the half's opening 1:11, as Loyola quickly put away any hopes of an Evansville comeback. 
 
A steal and score by Sitori Tanin saw the lead balloon to 49-17 with 2:34 to play in the third quarter. Another Tanin bucket a the 7:09 mark of the fourth quarter gave the Ramblers their largest lead of the night, 57-22, as Loyola cruised to the final horn.
 
Inside The Box
- Loyola turned in another suffocating defensive effort, as Evansville finished the game at just 17.3 percent (9-of-52) from the field.  The Ramblers forced a season-high 22 turnovers, cashing in for 21 points off of them.
- Evansville 31 points are the fewest allowed by the Maroon & Gold in an MVC contest since joining the league and the lowest point total put up by a Loyola opponent since a 46-28 win over Chicago State on December 1, 2017.
- Day was extremely efficient, leading Loyola with 16 points (7-8 FGs, 2-3 FTs), four rebounds, three assists, a block, and a steal in just 19 minutes of play.
- Tanin scored in double figures for a third-straight outing, adding 11 points in addition to a team-high seven rebounds, three assists, a block, and two steals.
- Maya Chandler chipped in 10 points (2-7 FGs, 2-5 3FGs, 4-6 FTs).
- Galanopoulos handed out a team-high four assists as Loyola finished the night with a season-best 17 helpers.
- For the second time in her last three appearances, Julia Hoefling racked up three blocks.
- Feit led Evansville with nine points (2-12 FGs, 5-7 FTs).
 
Up Next
Loyola will turn its attention towards a pivotal road series at UNI, February 19-20.