CHICAGO (January 7, 2021)
 
In Short…
Loyola University Chicago (9-5, 1-2 MVC) shot a blistering 62.5 percent (20-for-32) during the second half, erasing a nine-point halftime deficit as it defeated Drake (9-5, 1-2 MVC), 63-46, this evening at Gentile Arena.  Tonight's victory, Loyola's first of the season in Missouri Valley Conference play, marks the Ramblers' first win over Drake since a 75-69 road triumph back on January 24, 2014 and snaps a 15-game skid against the Bulldogs.
 
Head Coach Kate Achter's Thoughts…
"Drake has the beacon of success in The Valley and we've taken our fair share of beatings against them.  I was really proud of our team's persistence tonight and their resiliency.  I thought we got up really good shots in the first half, but we looked rusty.  There were contributions across the board and a lot of 'wake up' performances in the second half.  I'm just really proud.  There are big things ahead." 
 
How It Happened
Sam Galanopoulos wasted no time in getting the Ramblers off and running, rattling home a three on the game's opening possession to put Loyola on top, 3-0.  In what would become the theme of the first half, offense proved tough to come by for the Maroon & Gold as time wore on.  Following a Julia Hoefling layup that knotted the score at 7-7, Loyola was held off the scoreboard for the final 5:30 of the first quarter as Drake opened up an 11-7 edge.
 
Anna Brown connected from distance just 27 seconds into the second quarter, pulling the Ramblers back within one, 11-10.  Bre Hampton-Bey knocked down a mid-range jumper to trim the deficit to 13-12 at the 8:54 mark, but Loyola again went cold, hitting on just one of its last 13 tries to close the half.  A Megan Meyer trey with 25 seconds remaining sent Drake into the locker room with a 23-14 advantage.
 
Loyola quickly broke out of its offensive slumber in the third quarter.  Another Galanopoulos three sparked a 12-0 Rambler run that saw the Maroon & Gold pull level, 23-23, on a Hoefling post score before Galanopoulos drilled another triple to send Loyola back in front, 26-23, with 6:22 to play.  Drake reclaimed the lead, 35-34, on a Hannah Fuller make from outside with just under three minutes to go, but Chandler responded with a three of her own on the Ramblers' ensuing possession to make it 37-35.  With the two teams deadlocked at 40-40, Loyola finished the frame with a flurry, with buckets from Riley Blackwell and Chandler, respectively, staking the Ramblers to a 44-40 lead.
 
Hoefling looked to take control early in the fourth quarter, scoring on back-to-back trips to push the gap to 48-40 with 7:51 remaining in regulation.  Following two Maddie Petersen free throws that cut the margin to 48-42, Loyola put the game out of reach, as an Allison Day jumper laid the foundation for a backbreaking 11-0 run that sent the lead soaring into double digits.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Chandler led all scorers with 16 points (6-16 FGs, 2-8 3FGs, 2-2 FTs), all of which came in the second half.
- Hoefling added a career-high 10 points (5-7 FGs) and corralled six rebounds.
- Galanopoulos flirted with only the second triple-double in Rambler annals, closing her evening with nine points (3-8 FGs, 3-5 3FGs), a career-high tying eight assists, and six rebounds. 
- Hampton-Bey made her presence felt at both ends of the floor, putting up six points (3-6 FGs), seven rebounds, four assists, and a team-best three steals.
- Both Brown and Blackwell provided invaluable minutes off the bench.  Brown knocked down a pair of threes as part of a six-point (2-8 FGs, 2-7 3FGs), five-rebound performance, while Blackwell matched a career-high with three blocks in addition to four points (2-3 FGs) and three rebounds.
- Tonight's victory marked just the 10^th time since 2016-17 that Loyola has been tied or trailing at halftime and ultimately prevailed.
- Meyer finished with 12 points (4-11 FGs, 2-7 3FGs, 2-2 FTs) to lead Drake, which was limited to a season-low tying 46 points on 30.8 percent shooting (16-for-52).
 
Up Next
Loyola wraps up its weekend homestand with a 1 p.m. tilt against Northern Iowa on Sunday, January 9.