CHICAGO –
Naelle Bernard's career-high 24 points and
Sitori Tanin's double-double powered Loyola University Chicago's women's basketball team to a 70-68 overtime win Tuesday at Gentile Arena. The Ramblers' win was extra special as the program celebrated its annual Field Trip Day game, packing in 3,455 children and fans from the Chicago area to witness the fun.
"The energy in Gentile was electric, however, our performance in the first half was not," said Loyola Chicago Head Coach
Allison Guth after the win. "Our second quarter defensive performance needed to ramp up, and I was proud of the adjustments we made in the third quarter. We went in today down our starting PG, and I'm very proud of the efforts of
Naelle Bernard stepping up, running us at the point, and
Alexa Kinas, as a first year, coming in off the bench and having some production,"
How it Happened
Chicago State (0-13, 0-0 NEC) commenced scoring with two made buckets before the Ramblers (7-4, 0-1 A-10) used a 7-0 run to gain the lead. With Loyola going 8-of-17 (41-percent) from the field in the first quarter, LUC extended its lead to eight points (18-10) after
Emma Theodorsson's driving layup sent Loyola on a 6-0 run.
The Cougars began to turn it around in the second quarter on 9-of-16 (56-percent) shooting.
Jess Finney's three-pointer at the 6:05 mark kept Loyola on top by seven points (23-16), but Chicago State responded with an 8-0 run to retake the lead. Bernard hit a second-chance trey with 23 seconds left in the half, tying the game at 28-28. CSU scored on its next possession though to hold a two-point lead (30-28) heading into the halftime break.
LUC and the Cougars went toe-to-tie in the third frame, with the Maroon and Gold outscoring CSU, 14-13. The two teams traded blows until Finney delivered a clutch buzzer-beater, sinking a three-pointer to trim Chicago State's lead to 43-42. The shot gave Loyola a surge of momentum heading into the final quarter of regulation.
The Ramblers weathered a 10-0 CSU run and a seven point deficit (57-50) in the fourth quarter. The 'Blers turned it around with back-to-back threes from Finney and Bernard to put a shot of adrenaline in their arms. Then, Tanin cashed in three points at the charity stripe to help Loyola lead it, 59-57, with one minute to play. CSU, however, made two free throws at the end of regulation to send the game to OT, 59-59.
The Ramblers were dominate in the extra period, shooting the ball at a 67-percent clip to take control. A 9-0 Loyola stretch, which was capped by Kinas' layup in the paint with a minute left, gave the Ramblers the much-needed separation. After Finney made a free throw with just seconds left in the game, LUC won it, 70-68.
Notes
- Bernard broke her career-high as she scored a game-high 24 points (8-14 FG, 5-10 3PT, 3-3 FT). Her five made threes were a season-best.
- Tanin notched LUC's first double-double of the season and the 11th of her career with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
- Finney added 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists through the contest.
- Kinas grabbed a career-high six rebounds and five assists coming off the bench. Her four points were LUC's only off the bench.
- Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr dished out a season-high five assists and snagged five boards.
Up Next
The Ramblers take on Evansville this Saturday (Dec. 21) inside Gentile Arena. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. CT with the game streaming live on ESPN+.
