AMHERST, Ma. – The Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team defeated co-defending 2022-23 Atlantic 10 Regular Season Champion, Massachusetts, 79-66, Wednesday evening at the Mullins Center. With four Ramblers in double figures, Loyola's 58-percent (28-48) clip from the field and its 57-percent (8-14) clip from long range were its best shooting percentages of the season.

"I think the effort we put in the last two days of practice really improved our offense," said Loyola Chicago head coach Allison Guth. "We trust our offense and I think we have a team that believes in what we're doing. So coming off a 36-point performance against VCU, I think it was big that we shook that one off and flushed it from an offensive standpoint. We got to this gym, really ran our offense, and got a ton of shots up to build confidence."

How it Happened
Sam Galanopoulos scored Loyola's (9-8, 3-3 A10) first points of the contest at 8:36 of the first quarter - her seventh time this season knocking down the 'Blers' first points of a game. Ali Berg scored a layup after a UMass (3-15, 1-5 A10) turnover to make the score 6-4, Minutewomen. Then, Sophia Nolan, who was two points shy of her season-high (10) in the first half alone, knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game, 10-10. Berg drained a three before the quarter's buzzer to give the Ramblers their first lead of the game at 15-12.

In the second quarter, LUC stretched its advantage to five points (31-26) after Emma Nolan's three and Galanopoulos' jumper on the fast break after a turnover. But the home team held the momentum before halftime thanks to their 9-2 run to end the second quarter. The 'Blers finished the first half shooting 50-percent (12-24) from the floor and 55-percent (6-11) from long range, but trailed, 35-33, at the break.

Loyola Chicago used a massive 16-1 run in third quarter to hold its largest lead thus far (12 points). Tanin found her way to the cup at 2:43, sunk the layup, and drew the and-one foul to make the score 55-43, Loyola. The Ramblers made 75-percent (9-12) of their attempts from the field throughout the third quarter, swinging momentum in their favor.

In the fourth and final quarter, Loyola turned in a 6-0 run, thanks to layups from Tanin and Galanopoulos, to hold its largest advantage of the night at 65-47 (17 points). But, later in the quarter, UMass took off on a 7-0 run and shrunk Loyola's lead to single digits (73-64). The Maroon and Gold were not shaken though and kept the Minutewomen at bay for the remainder of the contest. After sinking 6-6 of their shots at the free throw line to end the game, Loyola won, 79-66.  

Notes

• Loyola has now defeated the two teams who shared the 2022-23 A-10 regular season title (Rhode Island and Massachusetts).
• Galanopoulos' game-high 22 points were her most in the past four games. She was 9-13 from the field and a perfect 2-2 from deep. She brought down a season-high, and game-high, seven rebounds.
• Tanin also grabbed seven rebounds to tie the game-high. She scored 11 points and dished out six assists, a career-high. Her four steals also marked a season-high.
• Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr snagged four steals for a new season-high.
• The Ramblers turned eight offensive rebounds into nine second chance points. UMass had just five.
• The two teams were even on the glass with each nabbing 28 boards.
• Coming off the bench, Sophia Nolan tied her season-high with 10 points. She also tied her career-best of three assists.
• Alyssa Fisher scored 17 points, her most in the past four games.

Up Next
The Ramblers return home Saturday (Jan. 20) as the team plays host to St. Bonaventure. Tip-off from Gentile Arena is set for 1 p.m. CT with the game streaming love on ESPN+.