CHICAGO – The Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team used its 64-percent clip from beyond the arc in the first half to secure a 70-62 win over Valparaiso Tuesday night inside Gentile Arena. With the win over their former Missouri Valley Conference foes, the Ramblers move to 4-1 overall.

"I'm a 'keep it a buck' type of coach and transparent," said Loyola Chicago Head Coach Allison Guth. "We're walking away from this game a little bit unsettled from a perspective of we have a ton of respect for Valpo, really tough schedule they played coming on in, but we have to have a little bit of more respect for ourselves. What's searing in our minds is a third and fourth quarter performance where we're giving up 20 points in each quarter. We're better defensively, and we're just a better team (than that). So, it's about having respect for ourselves and making sure that we take care of four quarters. With that being said, you have got to find a way to win, and the reason we're able to win a game like this is a collective effort."

How it Happened
Jess Finney kicked off the scoring with a pair of back-to-back three-pointers, while Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr added a trey of her own between Finney's two baskets to give Loyola a 11-3 lead over Valparaiso early. Not only clicking on offense, the Maroon and Gold were relentless on the defensive side of the floor too, forcing nine Valpo turnovers. Rosalie Mercille and Emma Theodorsson ended the quarter with two baskets to make Loyola's advantage 15-8.

The threes kept falling in the second quarter as the 'Blers connected on an outstanding 5-of-6 (83-percent) through the frame. The Ramblers' 19-6 run from the end of the first quarter to the midway point of the second gave them a 17-point lead (31-14). Two made buckets from Alexa Kinas and Theodorrson's good second-chance layup ended the half, giving Loyola its largest lead of the night (20 points) at 42-22.

The Beacons didn't go away quietly though as a 12-0 run from the visitors to start the third quarter shrunk their deficit to 34-42. Audrey Deptula, however, halted the sprint after a made trey from Kinas. Valparaiso's 9-of-17 shooting through the frame helped them make it a nine-point affair (51-42) heading into the final frame.

The 'Blers hung on through the fourth quarter, going 5-of-12 from the field and cashing in 9-of-10 free throws to keep the Beacons in check. Kira Chivers found Theodorsson in the paint at the 2:16 mark to make the score 61-51, Loyola. From there, LUC iced the game at the free throw line to seal its second straight win.

Notes

• Loyola Chicago turned 22 Valpo turnovers into 21 points.
• Loyola's bench outscored the Beacons', 20-8.
• The Ramblers out-rebounded Valpo, 28-27.
• Naelle Bernard led the way with 18 points, a season-high, and her third game of the season in double figures.
  • She also brought down four rebounds for a season-high.
• Chivers scored 11 points and had five assists, a season-high.
• Sitori Tanin ended with eight points and a trio of boards.
• Theodorsson scored six points and snagged a team-high five rebounds.
• Deptula tied her career-high with six points.

Up Next
The Ramblers return to action this Saturday (Nov. 23) as the team heads to Charleston, Ill., for a meeting with Eastern Illinois. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. with the game streaming live on ESPN+.