SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (February 28, 2021)
 
In Short…
For the second time in as many days, Loyola University Chicago (10-10, 8-8 MVC) hung with No. 23/19 Missouri State (18-2, 14-0 MVC), only to fall victim to a fourth-quarter surge that propelled the Lady Bears to a 59-45 victory this evening at JQH Arena in Springfield, Mo.
 
How It Happened
Loyola couldn't have scripted a better start, opening the game on a 7-0 run that began with a triple from Maya Chandler and layups on consecutive trips by Ellie Rice and Allison Day.  Missouri State trimmed the lead to one, 9-8, following two Sydney Manning free throws with 54 seconds remaining in the first quarter, but Day countered with a jumper to push the lead back out to three, 11-8.
 
After seeing the Lady Bears take their first lead of the night, 14-13, at the 7:21 mark of the second quarter, Sam Galanopoulos connected from beyond the three-point arc to push Loyola back in front, 16-14.  With the lead sitting at 17-15, an Emily Gartner fastbreak score ignited a 9-0 run for the hosts, sending Missouri State out to a 24-17 advantage.  Rice ended the first half on a high note for the Maroon & Gold, knocking down a mid-range jumper with just over a minute remaining that trimmed the gap to 24-19 at halftime.
 
Four straight points from Day to begin the second half quickly pulled the Ramblers within one, 24-23.  Missouri State looked to again create separation, rattling off seven of the night's next nine points to open a six-point lead, 31-25, just before the midway point of the third quarter.  Loyola didn't buckle, as Anna Brown drilled a triple to cut the lead in half, 31-28, before a Day bucket just before the horn had the Ramblers back down one, 34-33, heading to the fourth quarter.
 
Missouri State came out on fire to begin the final frame, with a Mya Bhinhar jumper laying the foundation for a quarter-opening 11-0 run that made it 45-33 with only 7:18 remaining in regulation.  A Sitori Tanin score clawed the Ramblers back to within eight, 45-37, at the 5:43 mark, but Loyola would get no closer, as Missouri State picked up its 18^th win of the year.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Day continued her strong play of late, leading all scorers with 14 points (5-9 FGs, 4-6 FTs), four rebounds, and two assists.
- Rice contributed nine points (3-7 FGs, 1-2 3FGs, 2-2 FTs), while Tanin came down with a team-high six rebounds in addition to two points (1-4 FGs), an assist, and a block.
- Loyola's defense, which entered the weekend leading the Missouri Valley Conference in points allowed (58.6 ppg), more than held its own, limiting a vaunted Lady Bear attack to its second lowest point total of the season.
- Jazmine Franklin paced Missouri State with 12 points (4-13 FGs, 4-6 FTs) and 17 rebounds.
 
Up Next
Loyola wraps up the regular season with back-to-back 3 p.m. tip-offs against Illinois State inside Gentile Arena, March 5-6.