CARBONDALE, Ill. (January 2, 2022)
 
In Short…
Allison Day poured in a team-high 18 points, but Loyola University Chicago was held to just 31 percent (8-for-26) from the field in the second half as Southern Illinois handed the Maroon & Gold a 63-50 defeat this afternoon inside Banterra Center.  The Salukis now sit at 7-5 overall (2-0 MVC), while the Ramblers fall to 8-5 (0-2 MVC).
 
How It Happened
Allison Day got the Ramblers off to a fast start, converting off a Sam Galanopoulos feed to make it 2-0 only 46 seconds in.  Southern Illinois answered back with the day's next five points before Loyola took off on a 7-0 run that included a Janae Gonzales triple to jump back in front, 9-5.  With the score knotted up at 13-13 following a Maya Chandler mid-range jumper, buckets from Makenzie Silvey and Gabby Walker in the closing minute gave the Salukis a 17-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
Chandler put Loyola back on level terms with just over three minutes gone in the second quarter, muscling up an attempt to tie the game, 21-21.  The Ramblers went the next 3:25 without a make from the field, a drought that was snapped by another Day bucket that trimmed the Saluki lead to 26-24.  Day accounted for the Maroon & Gold's final eight points of the frame, with her jumper as time expired sending Loyola into the locker room down one, 31-30.
 
Jala Johnson weaved through traffic in the opening seconds of the third quarter to give Loyola its first lead since early on, 32-31.  After seeing the Ramblers tie the game at 38-38 on a Sitori Tanin layup, Southern Illinois used a 6-0 spurt to reclaim the lead, with another Silvey make giving the hosts a 44-38 lead as the Salukis ultimately took a 50-42 lead into the final frame.
 
Galanopoulos connected from outside at the 8:43 mark of the fourth quarter to trim the gap to seven, 54-47.  The junior guard added another trey just over a minute later to again pull the Ramblers back within single digits, 58-50, but Loyola would go cold from that point forward, as it went scoreless for the final 7:21 of regulation.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Day was terrific, finishing a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe en route to her 18-point outing.  She also collected three rebounds, dished out a team-best three assists, and recorded a block.
- Galanopoulos chipped in eight points (3-7 FGs, 2-3 3FGs), connecting on a pair of threes.
- Silvey led a group of three Salukis in double figures with a game-high 20 points (5-11 FGs, 1-1 3FGs, 9-11 FTs).
- Southern Illinois enjoyed a big advantage at the charity stripe, finishing 16-for-21 from the line, while Loyola went 5-for-6.
 
Up Next
Loyola returns to the friendly confines of Gentile Arena next weekend, putting its unblemished home record on the line against Drake (January 7) and Northern Iowa (January 9).