CHICAGO (March 11, 2021) – Following an impressive debut season in Rogers Park, Loyola University Chicago freshman Maya Chandler (Martinsville, Ind./Triton Central) has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, it was announced on Thursday.  Chandler is the first player in program history to take home the league's top rookie award.
 
Chandler has been a stalwart in head coach Kate Achter's lineup this season, starting in all 22 games during her freshman campaign.  The 5-foot-7 guard has reached double figures in scoring eight times en route to averaging 8.1 points, a mark that ranks fourth on the Rambler roster, while shooting 40.1 percent (61-for-152).
 
A member of the 2020-21 MVC All-Freshman Team, Chandler wasted no time in announcing her presence with the Maroon & Gold, opening her career with consecutive 14-point efforts against Chicago State (November 28) and DePaul (December 13).  The Martinsville, Ind. product scored 16 points in a road clash at Bradley (January 23) before closing the regular season with a season-high 18-point showing against Illinois State (March 6).
 
Loyola (10-12, 8-10 MVC) begins play in the MVC Championship on Friday evening at 8 p.m. against Illinois State (15-6, 12-6 MVC) inside TaxSlayer Center in Moline, Ill.