RICHMOND, Va. (January 29, 2023)
 
In Short…
Loyola (6-15, 1-7 A-10) came up short on the road Sunday afternoon, falling 60-50 to VCU (6-14, 3-5 A-10) in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Sam Galanopoulos and Maya Chandler led the Ramblers with each scoring 10 points, along with a season-high nine points by Jala Johnson.
 
How it Happened
Anna Brown's layup gave the Ramblers a 5-3 advantage at the 7:24 mark in the first quarter, but VCU used an 11-0 run to take control as Loyola shot 17% (3-18) in the quarter. Mallory Ramage drained a pull-up jumper near the end of the period, snapping the drought and making the score 14-7 going into the second frame.
 
Back-to-back layups from Johnson trimmed the deficit to five at the second quarter media timeout. Shortly after, Galanopoulos knocked down her second trey of the quarter and made it a four-point game at 25-21. The Ramblers outscored the Rams 18-17 in the second stanza, including eight points from Chandler, but VCU remained out in front at halftime, 31-25.
 
Loyola came out of the break on a 6-0 run as Brown's first of back-to-back threes tied the game, before another trey gave the Ramblers a 34-33 edge – the squad's first lead since the first quarter.
 
However, VCU countered with a quick 5-0 burst and led 38-34 lead at the third-quarter media timeout. The Rams would lead the rest of the way.
 
Loyola trailed by eight, 46-38, going to the fourth quarter, before the deficit swelled to 54-40 after the Rams opened with 8-2 run over three-plus minutes. The Ramblers tried to make a late push, shooting 4 of 5 from the field down the stretch and pulled back within eight at 58-50 with under a minute remaining but the host Rams held on.
 
Playing without leading scorer Sarah Te-Biasu, VCU relied on a career-high 19 points by Chloe Bloom. Bloom went 6 of 7 from the field in the second half, including nine of VCU's 15 points in the third quarter.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Chandler reached double figures in scoring for 11th time this season
• Johnson made her 11th career start and scored a season-high nine points
• Galanopoulos posted her ninth game scoring double digits, and her third outing with two or more made 3-pointers
• Whitney Dunn registered a career-high three assists
• VCU outscored Loyola 44-28 in points in the paint
• Loyola's 10th straight game without committing more turnovers than its opponent
• Loyola's highest field-goal percentage over the past five games (35.1%)
• Second-highest opponent field goal percentage allowed in conference play (44.6%)

Up Next
Loyola returns to action Wednesday at home against Dayton. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.