CHICAGO – The Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team celebrated Senior Day with a 64-61 win over Dayton Saturday afternoon inside Gentile Arena. As the team overcame a 10-point deficit, all six seniors (Ali Berg, Sam Galanopoulos, Sitori Tanin, Alyssa Fisher, Emma Nolan and Sophia Nolan) scored in the win.

"We had six players that we celebrated tonight as seniors, as well as two of our managers and one of our practice men," said Loyola head coach Allison Guth after the win. "Anytime you have a game like that, there are a lot of emotions running high. I was proud of our team for weathering a little bit of that excitement and nerves in the first quarter and settling in - the second quarter, we put ourselves in a position to win,"

How it Happened
Dayton's defense held the Ramblers to a two-for-11 outing from the field in the first quarter. The Flyers had a seven-point lead before Loyola cut it to five (11-6) after Galanopoulos and Mallory Ramage split a pair at the charity stripe to end the first 10 minutes.

The Ramblers found their offensive rhythm in the second quarter, going six-for-11 (55-percent) from the field, two-for-four (50-percent) from deep and four-for-five (80-percent) at the free throw line. Aided by Galanopoulos' seven points and Kira Chivers' six, Loyola Chicago jumped right back into the action. The Maroon and Gold ended the quarter on an 8-0 run, cutting Dayton's lead to 26-24 as the two teams broke for the locker room.

LUC claimed its first lead of the day at the 5:47 mark in the third quarter when Berg drilled a triple from Chivers, her fifth points of the game. Through the reminder of the frame, the two teams traded buckets before two made free throws from Fisher helped Loyola make it a one-point game at 43-42, Dayton.

Sophia Nolan set the tone for a big fourth quarter, banging home a 3-pointer from Emma Nolan to start the final 10 minutes. Then, an 8-2 run, sparked by Tanin's jumper at the 6:43 mark, helped the Ramblers to their largest lead of the game at 55-51. Chivers maintained the lead with a massive putback layup while Fisher got the and-one bucket to go with 30 seconds left on Loyola's next possession.

Up 60-58 and with just seconds left in regulation, the win was sealed with the Maroon and Gold making four free throws in crunch time. Loyola ended its home slate on a high note, 64-61.

Notes

• Through the 2023-24 season, an average number of 711 fans per game attended Rambler home games, a program record.  
• Loyola ends the season with a winning record (8-7) in games played on its home court.  
• Galanopoulos led the way with 16 points, 51^st game scoring in double-figures.
• Fisher added 13 points for her 70^th game in double-digits.
• Tanin posted 10 points and five rebounds. She was one block shy of tying her career-high of five.
• Chivers dished out a game-high six assists.  
• Emma Nolan tied her career-high of four steals, a game-high.
• Sophia Nolan ended with eight points, two shy of tying her season-high.

Up Next
The Ramblers conclude the regular season Saturday (March 2) in D.C. as they take on George Washington. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. CT on ESPN+ and Monumental Sports Network.