CHICAGO (Nov. 6, 2023) – The Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team fell, 67-51, to crosstown rival UIC Monday night in its season opener. The Ramblers were led by Alyssa Fisher's 14 points and Sitori Tanin's 12.

"We're really disappointed as a group right now because we really don't think we played our quality of basketball. We want to defend, rebound, and run and we didn't do that tonight," said head Loyola Chicago coach Allison Guth.

How it Happened
UIC (1-0) raced out to a 12-1 lead in the first quarter after shooting north of 55 percent from the field. Despite a double-digit deficit, Loyola Chicago (0-1) found its rhythm on the offensive side of the court in the second quarter.

Tanin got things going with two layups before the Ramblers exploded on a 13-0 run from 6:24 – 1:45. Chivers' triple and five-straight layups from the 'Blers made the score 28-20, UIC, with under two minutes to play in the half. Through the quarter, the Maroon and Gold were 53 percent (8-15) from the field and 33 percent (1-3) from beyond the arc.

After the halftime break, a Flames' 3-pointer opened scoring, but Tanin and Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr responded with a pair of buckets in the paint to make the score 34-24.

After some back-and-forth action, Alyssa Fisher capitalized with an and-one opportunity at the charity stripe. UIC nabbed the missed free throw, but Fisher forced a turnover and dished the rock to Kika Hodge-Carr who drilled a massive 3-pointer, bringing LUC within seven points at 38-31, UIC.

The Flames ended the frame on a 11-3 run however and widened the gap to 49-34 before out-scoring Loyola, 18-17, in the final quarter. In the end, LUC lost the season opening contest, 67-51.

Inside the Box Score

• Ali Berg notched her first Rambler points with two made free throws at 4:19 in the first quarter.
• Loyola held UIC scoreless for over five minutes in the second quarter.
• The Ramblers out-scored UIC, 17-10, in second quarter.
• Kika Hodge-Carr had seven points in her Loyola debut.
• Emma Nolan led the Maroon and Gold on the glass with seven rebounds.
• Alyssa Fisher led the team with 14 points in her first game wearing the Maroon and Gold.

Up Next
The Ramblers will look to get back in the win column this Thursday as the squad heads to the south side to take on Chicago State. Tip is set for 4 p.m. at the Emil And Patricia Jones Convocation Center.

"We've got a lot to work on in the lab when we get back to work. We talk about this a lot - failure is an event, not a destination, thank goodness, because we have an opportunity to fix ourselves and get better for the next one."