CHICAGO (January 19, 2022) – Loyola University Chicago (10-7, 2-4 MVC) raises the curtain on a three-game homestand this coming weekend, beginning a stretch that will see it entertain a trio of foes from the state of Indiana. The stretch begins on Friday evening at 7 p.m. when Evansville makes its way to Rogers Park ahead of a 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon visit from Indiana State.
Currently sitting at 6-1 in games played within the friendly confines of Gentile Arena, the Ramblers are off to their best start to a home slate since going 7-1 to open their 2009-10 home schedule.
LAST TIME OUT
Loyola picked up a road split in its travels through Central Illinois last week. Led by a game-high 19 points from
Maya Chandler, Loyola ground out a 48-41 win over Bradley this past Thursday at Renaissance Coliseum in a game that also saw
Allison Day become the 28th player in program history to reach 1,000 points for her career. The Maroon & Gold dropped their weekend finale two days later at Illinois State, falling by a 68-50 final. Chandler and
Julia Hoefling scored 10 points apiece to pace the Ramblers.
LOYOLA/EVANSVILLE – THE SERIES
Longtime rivals in the former Midwestern City Conference, now known as the Horizon League, Loyola and Evansville will meet for the 42nd time on Friday evening in Rogers Park. The Ramblers have won nine straight matchups between the two teams and 15 of the last 17 encounters to extend their lead in the all-time series to 29-12 (.707).
Loyola coasted to a pair of comfortable wins last season at Meeks Family Fieldhouse, prevailing by respective scores of 67-49 and 61-31. The Maroon & Gold's defense set the tone, holding the host Purple Aces to just 25 percent shooting across both games of the series while also forcing 36 turnovers.
Ellie Rice poured in a game-high 16 points and 11 rebounds in the opener before Day erupted for 16 points in just 19 minutes of game action in the series finale.
LOYOLA/INDIANA STATE – THE SERIES
Sunday's weekend finale will mark the 23rd meeting between Loyola and Indiana State, a series in which the Sycamores hold a 13-9 (.591) advantage. The gap has closed in recent years, with Loyola picking up victories in five of the last six meetings.
The Ramblers and Sycamores split their regular season series in Rogers Park back in 2020-21, with Indiana State recording a 63-48 win before Loyola responded with a 59-52 triumph less than 24 hours later.
Anna Brown was terrific in the series finale, coming off the bench to finish with 12 points as she shared the team lead in scoring with Day.
PLAYING CARDS
Evansville enters the weekend at 7-8 overall and 1-3 in Missouri Valley Conference play. First-year head coach Robyn Scherr-Wells' team has already surpassed their win total from each of the last four seasons.
The Purple Aces are coming off a 69-51 defeat at the hands of Indiana State this past Tuesday at Hulman Center. Abby Feit, who enters tonight's matchup just seven points shy of 1,000 for her career, scored a team-high 16 points, while Anna Newman added 11 points as Evansville to its lowest offensive output of 2021-22.
Feit once again serves as the focal point for an Evansville attack that averages 71.7 points, a mark that ranks third in The Valley. The junior/guard forward puts up a Valley-high 18.1 points per game and sits just off the league lead in rebounding, pulling in 9.8 caroms per contest. Transfers Je'Naiya Davis and Myia Clark have also provided support on the offensive end. Davis, who poured in 35 points in a victory over Purdue Fort Wayne back on November 24, ranks behind only Feit in scoring at 17.9 ppg, while rounds out a trio to average in double figures for Scherr-Wells, adding 13.5 ppg.
CAN'T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES
Led by head coach Chad Killinger, who is in his first year at the helm in Terre Haute, Indiana State has been one of The Valley's surprise teams, starting 8-7 overall and 3-1 in league play after being picked ninth in the MVC Preseason Poll. The Sycamores have picked up wins in five of their last six games.
In its aforementioned win over Evansville, Del'Janae Williams paced the Indiana State attack, leading all scorers with 21 points. Marie Hunter chipped in 11 points of her own as the Sycamores improved to a perfect 6-0 on the year when holding an opponent under 60 points.
After losing leading scorer Adrian Folks (14.7 ppg) to injury back on November 26, Williams (12.7 ppg) has picked up the slack, scoring in double figures seven times across her last 10 outings while breaking the 20-point mark on three separate occasions. She also ranks as the Sycamores leading assist-getter, handing out 2.7 helpers per game. Hunter averages in double figures as well, contributing 10.5 ppg. Indiana State has also proven to be a handful on the defensive end, coming away with an MVC-best 12.5 steals per game.
UP NEXT
Loyola returns to the Gentile Arena hardwood on Friday, January 28 to take on Valparaiso at 6 p.m.
