CHICAGO (February 1, 2023)
 
In Short…
Loyola (6-16, 1-8 A-10) had four players reach double figures in the scoring column but it wasn't enough in Wednesday's 81-68 setback to Dayton (4-17, 3-7 A-10) inside Gentile Arena. Maya Chandler and Sitori Tanin each posted a team-high 14 points, while Kira Chivers and Sam Galanopoulos both scored 12 points to lead the Ramblers. The visiting Flyers snapped a five-game losing streak while the Ramblers will look to erase an eight-game slide this weekend.
 
How it Happened
After a tightly contested opening 20 minutes, featuring eight lead changes and Loyola's largest first-half scoring total in a home game this season, it was Dayton who closed the second quarter on a 10-3 run and grabbed its largest lead at halftime with the 42-36 advantage. The Dayton run came after Chivers buried back-to-back treys to put the Ramblers ahead 33-32 with just over three minutes left until halftime. The Flyers had a response for every Loyola threat and never trailed the rest of the night.
 
Loyola started the game shooting 1 for 7 from the floor but caught fire with six straight made shot attempts. Chandler accounted for six consecutive points late in the opening frame as the Ramblers led 16-10, before the Flyers knocked down a pair of threes to take the 18-16 lead heading to the second quarter. Dayton scored 12 of its 18 points in the first stanza off six Loyola turnovers.
 
UD moved in front 27-22, but Sophia Nolan came on strong with five straight points to pull the Ramblers within three at 30-27 with 5:54 until halftime. With just over a minute left until the break, Chivers drained her third three of the quarter to pull within a point at 37-36, but the Ramblers couldn't get back over the hump.
 
After halftime, Tanin took over in the third quarter with eight of her 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting in the frame. Her driving layup tied the game at 46-46 at the four-minute mark, and the teams traded baskets four more times before another Tanin layup leveled the score again at 50-50. However, the Flyers closed out the third period on a 9-0 run to lead 59-50 going to the fourth.
 
Loyola tried to climb back as Nolan's second trey of the night pulled the Ramblers within six. Unfortunately, the Flyers continued to have answers. The Ramblers trailed 66-60 after a layup from Galanopolous with under seven minutes remaining, but the Maroon & Gold went scoreless for nearly four minutes as the deficit swelled to double digits.
 
Dayton shot 67% overall in the second half, including 8 of 10 from the field in the fourth quarter. Loyola went just 2 of 12 from three-point range in the final 20 minutes after draining six treys in the opening half. The Flyers held a 44-26 scoring advantage in the paint.
 
Destiny Bohanon led the visitors with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, while Mariah Perez registered a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Loyola shot 40% overall from the floor and scored its most points in a league game this season
• Dayton made 56.7% from the field overall in the contest - the second highest opponent FG% allowed by the Ramblers this season
• The Ramblers tallied their highest scoring first quarter (16) and second quarter (20) in conference play. It was also the third-highest half this season and the highest opening half in a home game this season
• Loyola had four players in double figures for the first time since the A-10 opening win at Saint Louis, and the third time overall this year
• Chandler scored double figures in back-to-back games for the first time in league play and for the 12th time this season
• Chivers recorded her third game in double digits, including her career-high of 12 points twice in the past two home games. She also tallied a career-best four steals in her third consecutive start
• Anna Brown logged her 10th game this season with multiple made 3-point field goals
• Loyola recorded its highest assist total this season (18), led by Galanopoulos (5) and Chivers (4)
• Loyola edged out Dayton on the glass (36-35), winning the rebound battle for the third first time in A-10 play and third time overall this season
• Five players had at least four rebounds, including Tanin (7), Brown & Chandler (6), Nolan (5) and Galanopoulos (4)
• It was the 11th straight game where Loyola did not commit more turnovers than its opponent (11-12)

Up Next
Loyola begins a two-game road trip at Fordham this Saturday (1 p.m. CT), before heading to Davidson the following Wednesday (6 p.m. CT). As the regular season winds down, three of the Ramblers' final five games will be played at Gentile Arena – St. Bonaventure (Feb. 11), George Mason (Feb. 15) and Saint Louis (Feb. 25).