EVANSVILLE, Ind. (February 20, 2022)
In Short…
Allison Day scored 11 of her team-high 15 points in the fourth quarter as Loyola University Chicago battled back from a seven-point second-half deficit to prevail over Evansville (8-17, 2-12 MVC), 60-56, this afternoon at Meeks Family Fieldhouse in Evansville, Ind. Today's win, which improves Loyola to 16-10 overall (8-7 MVC), is the Ramblers' fourth straight, matching the program's longest Missouri Valley Conference win streak.
Head Coach Kate Achter's Thoughts…
"Really proud of the toughness our team showed in the second half. They trusted each other to get stops down the stretch. Julia (Hoefling) had a huge rebound and kick out to save it, Sitori (Tanin) made two big free throws, and Allison had an explosive second half that was great. I told our team that, at the end of the day, no one cares what the score was. It just matters if you win or lose. All wins in February are good wins, and we're happy with this one."
How It Happened
Maya Chandler wasted no time in finding her touch from outside, connecting on a three with just under three minutes gone that gave the Ramblers a 7-2 lead. Evansville responded, pulling even at 11-11 on a Je'Naiya Davis layup at the 3:28 mark. Davis knocked down a triple of her own with 1:54 to go to put the Purple Aces on top, 14-13, as the hosts held a slim 16-15 edge at the end of the first quarter.
Loyola jumped right back in front with 13 seconds gone in the second frame, taking a 17-16 lead on a
Sitori Tanin layup. Chandler connected on her second triple of the afternoon with 6:39 to go in the first half, giving the Ramblers a 22-19 advantage. After an
Anna Brown three stretched the gap to six, 27-21, Anna Newman scored in the closing seconds to cut Loyola's lead to 27-23 at halftime.
Evansville came out of the intermission firing, with an Abby Feit three knotting the score up at 29-29 with 6:01 to play in the third quarter. With the two teams sitting in a 34-34 deadlock, Davis rattled off seven of the Purple Aces' next nine points as part of a 9-2 surge that saw Evansville open up its largest lead of the game, 43-36, with under a minute remaining. Chandler connected on a much-needed fadeaway jumper shortly after, pulling the Maroon & Gold within five, 43-38.
Day was on a mission to begin the fourth quarter, scoring seven of Loyola's first nine points, as her three at the 8:14 mark tied the game at 45-45. After
Bre Hampton-Bey countered a Feit bucket with a layup to again put the two teams back on level terms, 47-47, Day converted on a hook shot that gave Loyola a 49-47 advantage and forced an Evansville timeout with 5:32 remaining in regulation. Hampton-Bey put the Ramblers on top for good with only a minute to play, dashing through traffic to make it 56-54.
Julia Hoefling came up with a key offensive rebound in the closing seconds, setting the stage for two
Sam Galanopoulos free throws that pushed the lead to 58-54. Any Evansville hopes for overtime went out the window when Feit saw her potential game-tying three with six seconds to play fall short, as Day secured the resulting rebound before hitting on the front end of a trip to the charity stripe to wrap up a second consecutive road win.
Inside The Box Score
- After picking up a pair of early fouls, Day was unstoppable in the fourth quarter in leading Loyola's rally, spearheading the attack with 15 points (6-11 FGs, 1-2 3FGs, 2-4 FTs), four rebounds, and two steals.
- Chandler knocked down a team-high three triples as part of a 13-point (5-13 FGs, 3-8 3FGs), five-rebound, three-assist effort.
- Fresh off matching her top performance of the season in Friday's win over Indiana State, Hampton-Bey was back in double figures again this afternoon, finishing with 12 points (5-9 FGs, 2-4 FTs), six rebounds, and a team-best three steals.
- Hoefling came down with eight rebounds in addition to four points (2-6 FGs), two assists, two steals, and a block.
- Davis (6-12 FGs, 3-5 3FGs, 2-2 FTs) and Feit (7-16 FGs, 1-5 3FGs, 2-2 FTs) led all scorers with 17 points apiece for Evansville.
Up Next
Loyola hits the road for the final time in Valley play on Friday, February 25 when it visits Valparaiso for a 6 p.m. tip-off inside the Athletics-Recreation Center.
