CHICAGO – In a game which featured 23 lead changes, the Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team owned a 38-37 halftime lead against DePaul, but ultimately fell, 93-72, as the final horn sounded Sunday afternoon at Wintrust Arena.   

Sam Galanopoulos scored 20 points, her third-straight game in double-figures, to lead the Ramblers' offense. Ali Berg chipped in a season-high 15 points, just one shy of a career-best, in the loss.

"Tonight, we made some great offensive strides for Loyola Chicago women's basketball. I thought that our offense really clicked on some cylinders," said head Loyola Chicago coach Allison Guth. "Playing some defensive stops, playing through pressure, and handling the ball. We go into the half with only seven turnovers against a pressurized team. More assists than turnovers are always a good thing, and we were that way at half. Tonight - this game came down to playing against a very skilled DePaul offensive team,"

How it Happened
The 'Blers outscored the Blue Demons, 17-14, in the first 10 minutes – their most first-quarter points of the season – thanks to seven field goals and one point at the charity stripe. With under two to play in the quarter, back-to-back Buckets from Galanopoulos and Berg helped Loyola own a five-points lead, its largest of the outing.

In the second quarter, Loyola was a perfect 2-2 from long range and 8-14 from the field (57-percent), but DePaul matched on their offensive possessions, going 5-6 from beyond the arc and 9-19 (47-percent) from the floor. Trailing 37-35 with a minute to go in the half, Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr nabbed a point at the free throw line before Kira Chivers delived a good layup in the paint to give the Ramblers its halftime lead.

Loyola Chicago kept the hot hand in the third frame after halftime, going 7-18 (53-percent) from the field and 3-3 from deep. DePaul, however, was just as efficient, shooting north of 75-percent from both the floor and 3-point range. The Blue Demons owned a 10-point lead (67-57) going into the final quarter before extending their lead to 93-72 as time expired.  

Notes

• Galanopoulos has achieved double-digit points in all but two games thus far in the season. Today, she dropped 20 plus four assists and three rebounds.
• Berg contributed a season-best 15 points, her first game in double-digits of the season. She brought down four boards as well.
• Emma Nolan nabbed a team-high three steals. She scored nine points to lead the bench.
• Sitori Tanin scored nine points as well.
• Loyola forced 18 DePaul turnovers and cashed in 14 points off them.
• The squad scored 36 points in the paint.
• The Ramblers' bench logged 21 points.

Up Next
Loyola will continue its road swing this Wednesday (Nov. 29) as it takes on Northwestern in Evanston. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena.