SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (February 27, 2021)
 
In Short…
Loyola University Chicago (10-9, 8-7 MVC) battled for all 40 minutes against No. 23/19 Missouri State (17-2, 13-0 MVC), finding itself down by just four in the fourth quarter, but a final push by the Lady Bears proved to be too much to overcome as the Ramblers fell by a final count of 64-50 this evening inside JQH Arena in Springfield, Mo.

How It Happened
Missouri State, which entered the day riding a 12-game win streak, put its foot on the gas early, jumping out to a 7-2 lead following a Brice Calip jumper at the 6:16 mark.  Loyola didn't allow the Lady Bears to run away, pulling back within three, 9-6, on a Kat Nolan bucket with 4:04 to play in the first quarter.  A second-chance score by Abby Hipp stretched the gap to 15-8, but a Sitori Tanin basket with just over a minute remaining chipped the deficit to 15-10 at the end of the opening 10 minutes of play.
 
A steal and score by Jasmine Franklin gave the Lady Bears' an eight-point edge, 22-14, with four minutes gone.  Loyola answered back with a 6-0 spurt that featured conventional three-point plays from Ellie Rice and Bre Hampton-Bey, trimming the margin to 22-20 with 4:05 to go in the first half.  After Hipp countered with a three-point play of her own to make it 29-22, Allison Day connected from outside on the Maroon & Gold's final possession of the half to send Loyola into the break down by only four, 29-25.
 
Day picked up right where she left off coming out of the locker room, scoring just 27 seconds in to make it a two-point game, 29-27.  Missouri State countered with a 12-2 run, as two Franklin makes at the free throw line pushed the Lady Bears' lead into double digits, 41-29, with 4:42 to play.  Loyola refused to fold, chipping its deficit down to 43-37 on a Day post score at the 1:47 mark.  Franklin responded with a bucket on the other end on the ensuing Missouri State possession, sending the hosts into the fourth quarter in front, 45-37.
 
Rice and Julia Hoefling opened the final frame with buckets on consecutive trips to quickly slice the Missouri State lead in half, 45-41.  Following another Day jumper that again made it a four-point game, 47-43, with 7:43 to play in regulation, the Ramblers went cold, going the next 7:10 without a make from the field, as Missouri State pushed its lead out to as many as 15 en route to victory.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Day led Loyola on the afternoon with 13 points (6-12 FGs), reaching double figures in scoring for a team-high 10^th time on the season.  The Russellville, Ohio product also ripped down a team-best eight rebounds and handed out a pair of assists.
- Rice was close behind, adding 11 points (5-10 FGs, 1-1 FTs), while Hampton-Bey chipped in 10 points (4-9 FGs, 1-1 3FGs, 1-1 FTs).
- Tanin continued her impressive play of late, finishing with eight points (2-2 FGs, 4-4 FTs) and a career-best four blocks.
- Franklin, a First Team All-MVC honoree a year ago, poured in 25 points (11-13 FGs, 3-3 FTs) and 11 rebounds for Missouri State.
 
Up Next
Loyola and Missouri State close out their season series on Sunday at 5 p.m. in Springfield, Mo.