CHICAGO (February 6, 2021) –
 
In Short…
Ellie Rice erupted for a career-high 28 points as Loyola University Chicago (7-6, 5-4 MVC) nearly completed a remarkable comeback, ultimately dropping a 68-64 decision to perennial Missouri Valley Conference power Drake (10-8, 8-3 MVC) this evening inside Gentile Arena.
 
How It Happened
After seeing Drake jump out to a quick 5-0 lead, a Maya Chandler fastbreak score put Loyola on the board, 5-2, at the 8:20 mark of the first quarter.  The freshman's bucket would be the Ramblers' last for just over six minutes, as Drake scored 12 unanswered points before Rice drilled her first three of the night to trim the Bulldogs' lead to 17-6 with 2:13 remaining.  Rice connected from inside the arc in the closing seconds of the frame to again cut the margin to 11, as Drake took a 21-10 lead into the second quarter.
 
Back-to-back makes from outside by Rice over a 37-second span quickly had the Ramblers back within six, 25-19, with 4:35 to go in the first half.  Drake finished the second quarter with a flurry, closing with a 10-2 surge that gave the visitors a 37-23 advantage at halftime.
 
Following a triple by Allie Wooldridge that gave Drake its largest lead of the game, 50-32, at the 4:22 mark of the third quarter, consecutive scores from Julia Hoefling looked to spark the Rambler attack, as Loyola battled back to down 51-41 after another Rice trey with 2:02 remaining.  Sitori Tanin finished inside in the final minute, trimming the deficit to 55-46 heading to the fourth quarter.
 
Chandler fought up an attempt inside with a minute gone in the final frame that sparked a 7-0 Loyola spurt, cutting the gap to 58-53 following another Hoefling score.  Buckets on consecutive trips by Tanin and Rice clawed the Ramblers within four, 62-58, just past the midway point of the quarter.  With the Drake lead sitting at 65-58 with 3:36 remaining, Loyola looked to mount one final push, scoring six straight points, four of which came from Tanin, to make it 65-64 with only 12 seconds left.  After a split at the line by Wooldridge, Rice was unable to get her game-tying attempt to fall, as Drake knocked down a pair of late free throws to escape with a weekend sweep.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Rice, who is just six days removed from what was a season-best 19-point showing against Southern Illinois, finished 11-of-21 from the field and hit on a career-high six of her nine three-point tries.  She also collected four rebounds, dished out three assists, and came away with a steal.
- Tanin was terrific off the bench, adding 12 points (5-8 FGs, 2-4 FTs), four rebounds, and three steals.
- Hoefling, who finished the night with six points (3-4 FGs) and five rebounds, wreaked havoc on the defensive end, blocking three shots and recording two steals.
- Sam Galanopoulos handed out a team-high five assists, as Loyola finished the night with a season-best 17 helpers.
- Allison Day ripped down a team-best seven rebounds in addition to six points (3-7 FGs), two assists, a block, and a steal.
- Grace Berg (7-14 FGs, 3-5 FTs) and Sarah Beth Gueldner (6-6 FGs, 5-5 3FGs) finished with 17 points apiece to lead Drake.
 
Up Next
Loyola opens up a four-game road trip next weekend with a pair of 6 p.m. matchups against Evansville, February 12-13.