CHICAGO (March 4, 2021) – Loyola University Chicago (10-10, 8-8 MVC) wraps up the 2020-21 regular season portion of its schedule this weekend with a pair of matchups against in-state rival Illinois State (13-6, 10-6 MVC). The Ramblers and Redbirds will meet at 3 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday inside Gentile Arena.
Loyola enters the weekend with plenty to play for when it comes to seeding for next week's Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The Maroon & Gold can still finish anywhere from third through seventh depending on results from around The Valley on the final weekend of the regular season.
LAST TIME OUT
Loyola hung with No. 23/19 Missouri State in a pair of contests last week, dropping a 64-50 decision to the Lady Bears last Saturday before falling by a final count of 59-45 the following day.
Allison Day led Loyola in the two-game set, averaging 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds across the two contests.
Sitori Tanin was a force on the defensive end in the series opener, racking up four blocks.
LOYOLA/ILLINOIS STATE – THE SERIES
Illinois State owns a 12-7 (.632) advantage in the 19 previous encounters between the Ramblers and Redbirds on the hardwood. The series has been remarkably even of late, as the two in-state rivals have split the last eight contests, with each team defending its home floor during the span.
When the two teams met last season at Gentile Arena on January 19, 2020, Day led the Maroon & Gold with 17 points as Loyola shot just over 48 percent en route to a 69-64 victory in Rogers Park. The matchup at Redbird Arena on February 14, 2020 proved to be an instant classic.
Tiara Wallace flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists, but two Lexi Wallen free throws with only one second remaining in the second overtime proved to be the difference, as Illinois State edged Loyola, 86-85.
BIRDWATCHING
Winners of each of its last three games, Illinois State enters the weekend sitting at 13-6 overall and 10-6 in Valley play. Like Loyola, the Redbirds have plenty to play for this weekend, as they could still finish anywhere from second through sixth in the MVC standings depending on results from the final set of regular season games.
Head coach Kristen Gillespie's team is led by the trio of Juliunn Redmond, Mary Crompton, and Terrion Moore. Redmond, the reigning MVC Newcomer of the Year, averages a team-high 14.0 points and has reached double figures in scoring in 14 of Illinois State's 19 games. Mary Crompton adds 11.8 points per game and has emerged as one of The Valley's top three-point threats, leading the conference in both three-point field goal percentage (.462) and three-point field goals made per game (2.7). Little Rock transfer Terrion Moore has also impressed in her debut season with the team, chipping in 11.0 points per game and a team-high 1.9 steals per game.
UP NEXT
Following the completion of its regular season slate this weekend, Loyola will turn its attention towards the 2021 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Moline, Ill. The Maroon & Gold will begin play at TaxSlayer Center on either Thursday, March 11 or Friday, March 12.
