In Short…
Loyola University Chicago (10-11, 8-9 MVC) shot 51 percent (25-for-49) from the field, but was done in by 24 turnovers as Illinois State picked up a 64-61 victory over the Ramblers this afternoon inside Gentile Arena.
 
Head Coach Kate Achter's Thoughts…
"I was really disappointed in our execution today.  It's hard to beat any team when you turn the basketball over 24 times.  That's seems to be our Achilles' heel.  Our half-court defense has been unbelievable.  Right now, we're getting beat on points off turnovers."
 
How It Happened
Loyola jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead behind an old-fashioned three-point play from Bre Hampton-Bey and a mid-range jumper from Maya Chandler.  Chandler finished on a conventional three-point play of her own with just over four minutes gone to stretch the Ramblers' lead to 10-4.  With the advantage sitting at 14-10 following a Sitori Tanin score, Mary Crompton, Terrion Moore, and Maya Wong each connected from outside, vaulting Illinois State in front, 19-14.  Anna Brown answered back with a triple of her own in the final minute of the first quarter that pulled Loyola within two, 21-19.
 
Threes from Sam Galanopoulos and Janae Gonzales provided the bookends to an 8-0 run that lifted Loyola on top, 30-23, at the 5:44 mark of the second quarter.  Gonzales dialed in again from distance two minutes later, giving the Maroon & Gold its largest lead of the afternoon, 35-25.  Loyola went cold down the stretch though, going scoreless for the final 3:38 of the half, as Illinois State finished with a 6-0 surge to close within four, 35-31.
 
Illinois State kept its foot on the gas to begin the second half, rattling off 10 straight points to open up a 41-35 edge.  An Allison Day jumper snapped an 8:16 scoreless stretch for the hosts, trimming the gap to 41-37.  Back-to-back threes from Ellie Rice regained a one-point lead for Loyola, 46-45, with 3:16 left in the third quarter.  Like Illinois State to close the first half, the Ramblers finished the frame with a surge, scoring the final six points, the last two of which came on a Tanin layup, to take a 52-47 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
After another Tanin score made it 54-49, Illinois State took off on an 8-0 spurt that put the Redbirds back on top, 57-54, with 6:03 to play in regulation.  Loyola continued to battle, with a Day jumper at the 3:50 mark trimming the deficit to just one, 59-58.  Deanna Wilson converted after a scramble to make it a two-possession game, 63-58, just inside the final minute, but Loyola refused to fade, as Gonzales banked in a deep three to cut the margin to two, 63-61.  Moore split a pair of free throws with 18 seconds to go, setting the stage for a dramatic ending, but a last-ditch three as time expired went array, as Illinois State escaped with a victory in the series opener.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Rice led Loyola on the afternoon with 13 points (5-10 FGs, 3-8 3FGs) and seven rebounds.
- Day added 12 points (6-10 FGs) and 10 rebounds en route to her sixth career double-double.
- Gonzales provided a big lift off the bench, drilling four threes as part of a 12-point effort (4-4 FGs, 4-4 3FGs).
- Wilson finished with a game-high 14 points (7-13 FGs) for Illinois State.
- The Redbirds capitalized for 33 points off of Loyola's 24 miscues.
 
Up Next
Loyola and Illinois State meet again on Saturday at 3 p.m. inside Gentile Arena in the 2020-21 regular season finale.