CHICAGO – The Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team outscored Davidson in three-of-four quarters but ultimately fell, 45-48, Sunday inside Gentile Arena. In a defensive dual, the Ramblers limited the Wildcats to 38-percent (18-for-47) from the field when they averaged 44-percent entering the matchup.

"Disappointing loss obviously," said Loyola head coach Allison Guth after the game. "These are felt deeply when they come down to the final minutes. You finally garner a lead in the fourth quarter - which you couldn't get in the in the entirety of the game other than the first quarter - after having a lousy second quarter offensively. You recognize, as a coach, they're won and lost throughout the game, and so I think we come away as group a bit disappointed in our second-quarter offensive performance."

How it Happened
An early technical foul called on Davidson's (17-6, 7-5 Atlantic 10) bench helped Loyola (12-12, 6-7 Atlantic 10) gain a 6-4 lead at the 5:24 mark in the first quarter. The Wildcats clawed back on an 8-0 run, taking a 12-6 lead over Loyola Chicago with under three minutes left in the frame. Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr's layup at the 2:02 mark stymied the run and gave the Ramblers momentum to end the first quarter on an 8-1 run of their own.

With the Ramblers up by one point (14-13) to start the second quarter, Alyssa Fisher made a pullup jumper to start the frame, but that would be just one-of-two field goals made by LUC throughout the quarter. Davidson outscored Loyola, 14-4, through the frame – giving Loyola Chicago a difficult deficit to come back from in the second half.

Nonetheless, it was all Loyola in the third quarter with the 'Blers shooting 42-percent (five-for-12) from the field and 50-percent (one-of-two) from downtown. The Ramblers held Davidson scoreless for four-plus minutes and used an 11-4 run from 9:19 to 3:16 to shrink Davidson's lead to 33-31.

Loyola Chicago took its first lead since 7:59 in the second quarter after Sam Galanopoulos, who finished the game with a game-high 18 points, nailed a second-chance layup with 3:07 to play. Hodge-Carr preserved the one-point lead with her made layup in the paint but the Wildcats, with under a minute left in regulation, matched the layup and sunk two free throws to seal Loyola's fate, 48-45. Fisher hurled a near-successful hail Mary from half court as time expired to extend the game, but it rattled off the rim in heartbreaking fashion. 

Notes

• Galanopoulos' game-high 18 points marked her eighth-straight game in double figures. She added a team-high three assists, pushing her career total north of 400 (402).
• Sitori Tanin brought down a game-high seven rebounds. She also swatted three shots.
• Fisher and Hodge-Carr ended the day with 10 points each.
• Emma Nolan led the bench with six points.

Up Next
Loyola will regroup and prepare for a road test against Saint Louis Wednesday (Feb. 14). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN+.