CHICAGO (March 6, 2021)
 
In Short…
Maya Chandler poured in a season-high 18 points, but visiting Illinois State (15-6, 12-6 MVC) held Loyola University Chicago (10-12, 8-10 MVC) to just 31 percent (17-for-55) shooting as it dealt the Ramblers a 60-45 setback in the regular season finale for both teams this afternoon inside Gentile Arena.
 
Head Coach Kate Achter's Thoughts…
"It was a pretty emotional weekend for us as we honored our four seniors and everything that they've meant to the program.  I thought we expended a whole lot of energy yesterday, and we just couldn't get over the hump today.  On the bright side of things, we asked for improvement in a few areas, specifically turnovers, and we got it.  We just struggled across the board to make shots today and sometimes that's how it happens.  I'm still really proud of the body of work our team has put together against a very tough Missouri Valley Conference."
 
How It Happened
Following an emotional Senior Day ceremony, Loyola got off to a quick start, with Chandler rattling off five of the Maroon & Gold's first seven points as the Ramblers built an early 7-2 lead.  Illinois State battled back, pulling even at 7-7 on a conventional three-point play by Terrion Moore with 4:21 to play in the first quarter.  A Sitori Tanin layup briefly put Loyola back in front, 9-7, but buckets from Kate Bullman and Moore inside the final 2:18 staked the Redbirds to an 11-9 edge.
 
Allison Day scored just over two minutes into the second quarter to knot the game up at 11 apiece.  The junior's make would be Loyola's last for over five minutes, as Illinois State used a 9-0 run to open up a 20-11 lead.  Julia Hoefling snapped the drought with a post score at the 2:20 mark, only for Juliunn Redmond to connect from distance in the half's final minute, sending Illinois State into halftime in front, 24-13.
 
Coming out of the break, Loyola looked to battle its way back from beyond the three-point arc.  Day knocked down a triple just under 90 seconds in, before Chandler drilled two treys, the second of which cut the margin to three, 29-26, and prompted an Illinois State timeout with 5:36 to go in the third quarter.  The Redbirds responded, pushing their lead back into double digits, 41-29, on a fastbreak score by Redmond with five seconds remaining in the frame.  Chandler provided the Maroon & Gold a boost heading into the fourth quarter, knocking down a three from just over half court as time expired to make it 41-32.
 
After seeing the visitors' lead reach 45-32 a minute in, Tanin finished inside and Rice hit from distance to claw the Ramblers back within eight, 45-37.  Illinois State put the game out of reach shortly after, using a 9-0 spurt to open up its largest lead of the day, 57-39, en route to victory.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Chandler's aforementioned 18-point effort (6-12 FGs, 3-7 3FGs, 3-4 FTs) led all scorers on the afternoon.
- Day flirted with her second double-double in as many games, adding nine points (4-7 FGs, 1-2 3FGs) and seven rebounds.
- Hoefling recorded three blocks, marking her sixth game this season with at least two rejections.
- DeAnna Wilson paced Illinois State with 17 points (4-7 FGs, 9-11 FTs).
 
Up Next
By virtue of results from around the league on the final day of the regular season, Loyola will be seeded sixth and will receive an opening-round bye in the upcoming Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.  The Ramblers will take on third-seeded Illinois State on Friday, March 12 at 8 p.m. inside TaxSlayer Center in Moline, Ill.