CHARLESTON, Ill. (November 20, 2022)
 
In Short…
Loyola University Chicago (1-3) fell 83-73 against Eastern Illinois (4-0) in Sunday's non-conference matchup. Sophia Nolan scored a career-high 19 points to lead four Ramblers in double digits at Lantz Arena.
 
How It Happened
After a strong start from Nolan, who made a pair of 3-pointers in the opening quarter, Loyola used an 8-0 run to move out in front with a six-point lead. A pair of free throws from Sitori Tanin gave the Ramblers a 17-13 advantage after one quarter of action, and the lead swelled to eight at the second quarter media timeout with 4:51 until halftime. EIU cut the deficit to four, but Sam Galanopoulos drained her first 3-pointer of the season to keep the Ramblers ahead by seven.
 
Maya Chandler banked a running floater at the halftime buzzer to put the Ramblers up 10 at the break, 40-30. Loyola shot 6 of 9 (66.7%) from three-point range in the opening half, while limiting EIU to just 1 of 11 (9.1%). Nolan tied her previous career-high of 12 points in the opening half, which she recorded the last time out against Virginia. The Ramblers also held EIU's Lariah Washington, who scored 33 the last time out, with only four points and one made field goal through 20 minutes.
 
However, the Ramblers went cold from the field in the third quarter while the host Panthers caught fire to get back in the game. Loyola started 1 of 10 and would finish with a 3-of-15 shooting clip in the third, while EIU went 10 for 14 from the field. Loyola led 45-41 at the under-five media timeout, but the Panthers regained their first lead since early in the contest with Washington's fastbreak layup near the three-minute mark. Chandler's floating layup briefly gave the Ramblers a two-point lead, but EIU's Morgan Litwiller made a desperation three at the buzzer, lifting the Panthers to a 56-55 lead going into the fourth.
 
Loyola opened the final stanza with the lead when Chandler hit a three on the opening possession, but that would prove to be the last time the Ramblers were in front the rest of the way. EIU used a quick 5-0 run to gain control and led by as much as 10 midway through the fourth. Brown's three near the six-minute mark, her fourth of the day, cut the deficit to three at 66-63 but that was as close as Loyola would get. Washington scored nine of her 17 points in the fourth to help seal the win for the Panthers.
 
Inside The Box Score

• Nolan finished 7 of 14 from the field with career highs in points (19) and rebounds (5)
• Brown scored 16 points on 4-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. She also tied a career high with three assists and had four rebounds
• Chandler finished with 14 points with a pair of 3-pointers and went 4 for 4 at the line. She is a perfect 17 for 17 at the free throw line this season
• Chandler scored a season-high 13 points with four assists and team-high seven rebounds
• Tanin tied her career high with six made free throws, finishing with eight points and three assists
• The Ramblers shot 20 for 24 from the free throw line

Up Next
Loyola hosts Miami (FL) on Tuesday night with a 6 p.m. tipoff inside Gentile Arena.