CHICAGO (February 24, 2021)
 
In Short…
Shay Frederick scored in the closing seconds of regulation to send visiting Valparaiso (9-10, 5-7 MVC) past Loyola University Chicago (10-8, 8-6 MVC) by a final count of 57-55 this evening inside Gentile Arena. 
 
Head Coach Kate Achter's Thoughts…
"In a lot of categories on the box score, we felt like we took care of business.  We took care of the basketball, had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, won the rebounding battle, shot 35 percent from three, and won the battle of the bench.  I do think our kids are tired.  We've played 12 games since January 19.  We're not using that as an excuse though.  We had our chances, including at the end of the game, and we just lost it."
 
How It Happened
Back-to-back buckets from Maya Chandler and Sam Galanopoulos quickly put Loyola in front, 4-0.  Valparaiso answered back with the night's next six points, going on top, 6-4, following a Grace White layup at the 5:49 mark of the first quarter.  With the visitors' lead sitting at 11-9 after a White triple, a Bre Hampton-Bey layup knotted the score up at 11 apiece before Chandler connected from outside as time expired to give Loyola a 14-11 edge.
 
Both teams struggled to gain separation in the second quarter, with a Fredrick three pushing Valparaiso back on top, 18-16, with four minutes gone.  Scores on consecutive trips by Hampton-Bey gave Loyola a brief 22-20 lead with 3:18 to go, but White responded with another trey just under a minute later, as Valparaiso ultimately took a 26-24 lead into the locker room.
 
Galanopoulos heated up to start the second half, rattling home a pair of threes, the second of which staked the Maroon & Gold to a 30-26 advantage.  An old-fashioned three-point play by Sitori Tanin pushed the gap to 33-28, before Anna Brown hit her second of two threes on the night at the 2:27 mark to give Loyola its largest lead of the game, 39-32.  Valparaiso refused to fold, with a Molly Sheehan three on the team's last possession of the frame trimming the Rambler lead to 42-39.
 
An Ellie Rice driving score with 5:44 to play in regulation reestablished a five-point Loyola lead, 46-41.  After a 6-0 Valparaiso spurt gave it a 47-46 edge, Galanopoulos drained a clutch three and Allison Day finished inside, nudging the Ramblers back in front, 51-47, at the 2:53 mark.  Valparaiso mounted another push, taking a 54-53 lead after a pair of White makes at the charity stripe.  After White split two attempts at the line with 24 seconds remaining, Tanin came up with a key offensive rebound and connected on a pair of free throws to knot the game up at 55-55.  Frederick went to work following a Valparaiso timeout, driving inside and scoring high off the glass to push the visitors out to a perilous 57-55 advantage, prompting a Loyola timeout.  Carie Wienman came up with a steal on Loyola's final possession as time winded down, securing a split in the season series for Valparaiso.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Galanopoulos paced Loyola on the evening with 13 points (5-11 FGs, 3-5 3FGs) and a season-best six assists.
- Tanin also scored in double figures, coming off the bench to add 11 points (4-7 FGs, 3-5 FTs), six rebounds, and three blocks.
- Loyola held a sizeable advantage in a handful categories, including points off turnovers (20-4), second-chance points (14-2), and bench points (25-14).
- The Ramblers had an uncharacteristic night at the free throw line, shooting just 46.7 percent (7-for-15) from the charity stripe.
- White led all scorers with 22 points (9-12 FGs, 1-3 3FGs, 3-6 FTs) for Valparaiso.
 
Up Next
Loyola embarks on its final road trip of the 2020-21 regular season this weekend, visiting JQH Arena in Springfield, Mo. for a two-game set with No. 23/19 Missouri State, February 27-28.  Both matchups are scheduled to tip-off at 5 p.m.