CHICAGO (February 17, 2021) – Coming off a series sweep of Evansville, Loyola University Chicago (9-6, 7-4 MVC) is back on the road this weekend as it visits UNI for a pivotal two-game set inside the McLeod Center.  Friday's series opener is set for 6 p.m., while Saturday's finale is slated for a 4 p.m. tip-off. 

The Ramblers and Panthers enter the weekend separated by just one game in a tightly contested middle of the pack in the Missouri Valley Conference standings.  Loyola will look to continue its great work on the defensive end of the floor this weekend in The Hawkeye State, having held five of their last nine opponents below the 50-point mark. 

LAST TIME OUT
Loyola turned in a pair of sparkling defensive efforts last weekend on the road at Evansville. The Ramblers picked up a 67-49 win on Friday ahead of a 61-31 triumph on Saturday.  Ellie Rice averaged a 12.5 points over the two contests to lead the Maroon & Gold, who held the Purple Aces to just 25 percent shooting for the weekend. Sitori Tanin also enjoyed an imprssive weekend, averaging 12.0 points and 8.0 rebounds en route to being named the MVC Newcomer of the Week.

LOYOLA/UNI – THE SERIES
Loyola and Northern Iowa have met 16 times, with the Panthers holding a commanding 13-3 (.812) advantage in the all-time series.  UNI has prevailed in each of the last nine matchups, with the last Rambler victory coming back on January 29, 2016 at Gentile Arena, 64-60. Loyola is 1-7 (.125) all-time in Cedar Falls and is in search of its first win inside the McLeod Center.

When the two teams met in Cedar Falls last season on January 31, 2020, Loyola found itself in an early double-digit hole as UNI cruised to a 70-50 victory.  It was a different story just over a month later on March 1, 2020 inside Gentile Arena, as the Ramblers battled back from a 17-point deficit behind a career-high tying 26 points from Tiara Wallace, ultimately dropping a 73-70 decision.

PURPLE REIGN
Coming off a weekend split at Bradley, Northern Iowa enters its series with Loyola at 9-9 overall. The Panthers own a 6-5 mark in MVC play, sitting a game back of the Ramblers in the league standings.  Friday's tilt will mark the end of a grueling stretch that saw UNI play five straight games on the road, a stretch in which head coach Tanya Warren's team posted a 3-2 record.

Preseason All-MVC honoree Karli Rucker spearheads the attack for the Panthers, averaging a team-high 13.8 points and 3.5 assists.  A First Team All-MVC pick a year ago, Rucker has reached double figures in scoring 10 of UNI's last 11 games, highlighted by a 32-point effort in a win over Valparaiso on January 8.  The Panthers enter the weekend as one of The Valley's top offensive units, averaging 71.3 points per game, a mark that ranks third in the MVC.

UP NEXT
Loyola is back in action on Wednesday, February 24 when it hosts Valparaiso inside Gentile Arena.  Tip-off from Rogers Park is slated for 6 p.m.