CHICAGO (February 17, 2022) – Fresh off a convincing victory on Tuesday evening, Loyola University Chicago (14-10, 6-7 MVC) opens its final road trip of the 2021-22 season this weekend, heading to Indiana for a pair of matchups.  Less than 72 hours removed from battling in Rogers Park, Loyola and Indiana State will wrap up their regular season series at 5 p.m. (CT) on Friday at the Hulman Center.  The Ramblers will then head south to tussle with Evansville in a 1 p.m. Sunday matinee inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.

In what has been a consistent theme this season, Loyola is playing some of its best basketball on the defensive end of the floor of late.  In wins over Bradley and Indiana State to close out their most recent homestand, the Ramblers limited the Braves and Sycamores to an average of just 40.5 points per game and a combined 25.9 percent mark from the field while also forcing 32 turnovers across two victories.

LAST TIME OUT
Loyola shot just shy of 50 percent from the field and put forth another sparkling defensive performance in a 64-40 win over Indiana State this past Tuesday in Rogers Park.  Maya Chandler led a trio of Ramblers in double figures with 19 points, while Julia Hoefling racked up six blocks.

LOYOLA/INDIANA STATE – THE SERIES
Following Tuesday's victory, Loyola closed Indiana State's lead in the all-time series between the two teams to 13-10 (.565).  The Ramblers have dominated the series of late, winning six of the last seven encounters.

In its last visit to the Hulman Center back on January 12, 2020, Janae Gonzales put up a team-high 12 points, all of which came from beyond the three-point arc, as Loyola held off Indiana State, 58-51.  Ellie Rice finished just shy of a double-double in the win, putting up eight points and 12 rebounds as the Sycamores were limited to just over 35 percent shooting.

LOYOLA/EVANSVILLE – THE SERIES
Sunday's clash in The River City marks the 43rd installment of the rivalry between former Midwestern City Conference rivals Loyola and Evansville, a series which the Ramblers lead by a 30-12 (.714) margin after winning 10 straight matchups and 16 of the last 18 meetings.

When the two teams battled back on January 21 at Gentile Arena, Loyola used a 15-3 third-quarter run to create separation as it coasted to a 68-54 victory.  Allison Day scored a season-high 21 points to lead the Maroon & Gold, which held the Purple Aces to a 29-percent clip from the field. 

CAN'T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES
After getting off to a 4-1 start in Valley play, Indiana State (10-13 overall) has dropped six of its last seven games, slipping to 5-7 in Valley action.

In Tuesday's loss in Rogers Park, Tonysha Curry came off the bench to pace the Sycamores with 10 points.  Indiana State impressed on the glass in the defeat, outrebounding the Ramblers by a 39-31 margin.

First-year head coach Chad Killinger's team is led by Del'Janae Williams's 13.3 points per game.  The only Sycamore to average in double figures, Williams, who also leads the team in assists (2.9 apg), has surpassed the 20-point plateau five times this season, highlighted by a career-best 27-point effort in a win over Bradley back on February 4.  Marie Hunter, the only player to start is all 23 contests this season, adds 9.9 ppg and has swiped a team-high 50 steals (2.2 spg) for an Indiana State team that leads The Valley in the category, coming away with 10.5 thefts per game.

PLAYING CARDS
Evansville, which entertains Valparaiso on Friday, snapped a 10-game skid last Saturday, coming back from 16 down at the start of the fourth quarter in a 58-56 win over Indiana State to move its record to 8-15 overall (2-10 MVC).

Je'Naiya Davis led Evansville in its victory against the Sycamores, pouring in 20 points to pace a trio of Purple Aces in double figures that also featured Myia Clark (19 points) and Anna Newman (10 points).

Also under the direction of a first-year head coach in Robyn Scherr-Wells, Davis spearheads the Purple Aces' attack, averaging 15.9 points per game, a mark which ranks fourth in the MVC.  Two-time All-Valley pick Abby Feit remains a threat at both ends of the floor, adding 15.3 ppg in addition to 9.4 rebounds per game and 1.9 blocks per outing.  Clark rounds out a trio to average in double figures for Scherr-Wells' crew, contributing 12.7 ppg.

UP NEXT
Loyola makes the short tip to Northwest Indiana on Friday, February 25 to take on Valparaiso in its 2021-22 road finale.  Tip-off from inside the Athletics-Recreation Center is set for 6 p.m.