EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team used a 27-point offensive onslaught in the fourth quarter to beat SIUE, 57-52, Saturday afternoon in Edwardsville, Ill., at First Community Arena. Powered by Kira Chivers' career-high 14 points, the win marked Loyola first road triumph of the season and improved the team's record to 3-1 overall.

"A total team effort of finding a way to get it done on the road," said Loyola Chicago Head Coach Allison Guth. "From a coach's perspective though, what wins games is rebounding the basketball. We got out-rebounded here on the road. What wins games is making free throws, and we left 16 free throws at the line out of 31 attempts. It's not good enough. We're going to get back to the lab. We're going to make sure that we are taking care of business when we host Valpo at home on Tuesday."

How it Happened
For the fourth-straight game, Loyola Chicago started scoring with a 3-pointer. Naelle Bernard sunk the triple from Chivers to give Loyola the early advantage. Jess Finney followed with another triple and a second-chance jumper at the 5:21 mark, making Loyola's lead 8-2.

SIUE used a 5-0 run to come within one point (8-7) of the Ramblers. With under a minute left in the opening quarter, Chivers sunk a pair at the charity stripe, but the Cougars drained a 3-pointer before the buzzer to tie the game, 10-10, after the first 10 minutes.

SIUE's run, which extended to 12-2 into the second quarter, was finally stopped at the 6:09 mark after a reverse layup from Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr, making the score 14-12, Cougars. At 1:03, Emma Theodorsson sank a 3-pointer, narrowing Loyola's deficit to 19-17. Alexa Kinas followed with a fastbreak layup just before the half, sending Loyola into the locker room trailing 21-19.

Coming out of the break, Loyola surged with a swift 7-2 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Chivers. The run tied the game at 30-30 and forced SIUE to call a timeout with 2:56 remaining in the third quarter.

The Ramblers cranked up the intensity in the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run, taking control of the game in crunch time. Rosalie Mercille hit back-to-back threes to put an exclamation mark on the run and give Loyola its first lead (40-34) since the first quarter.

With 3:48 left in regulation, the Ramblers forced an SIUE turnover and Theodorsson drew a foul on the other end. The Pittsburgh native sunk both of her free throws to put Loyola in the lead, 45-39. After an SIUE timeout with 2:59 left to play, Mercille hit another bomb from beyond the arc before Chivers drew a charge to give Loyola the ball back.

The 'Blers were efficient at the charity stripe in the waning moments of the game, helping the team hold on to win it, 57-52.

Notes

• Loyola forced 22 turnovers while committing 15.
• Chivers led the way with a career-high 14 points. She was incredibly accurate at the free throw line, going 9-of-10, to help LUC win it.
  • She tied the game-high with three assists and drew three big fouls.
• Finney and Mercille scored 10 points each.
• Finney grabbed five rebounds while Mercille brought down four.  
• Sitori Tanin crashed the glass for a team-high six rebounds.

Up Next
The Ramblers are next in action this Tuesday (Nov. 19) as the team hosts Valparaiso inside Gentile Arena. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. CT with the game streaming live on ESPN+.