CHICAGO – The Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team fell, 83-45, to Dayton Thursday night at UD Arena. Emma Theodorsson led the Ramblers with 10 points, her 34^th career game in double figures. Naelle Bernard was close behind, scoring nine.

"We did everything opposite of what our game plan was tonight," said Loyola Chicago Head Coach Allison Guth. "We absolutely knew we were coming into an environment where there was going to be physicality and rebounding efforts from Dayton that we would have a ton of respect for."

How it Happened
Jess Finney and Bernard hit a pair of threes to give Loyola (9-5, 1-2 Atlantic 10) an early 6-5 lead over the Flyers (7-6, 1-1 Atlantic 10) before the first media timeout. Dayton, however, responded by finishing the quarter on a 13-0 run. The Flyers shot the ball at a 50-percent clip while limiting Loyola to 20-percent as the home team led, 18-6, after the first 10 minutes.

The Flyers carried the run into the second quarter and extended their lead to 20-6 before Theodorsson's jumper at the 9:14 mark halted the run. Dayton, which maintained its 50-percent field goal average on 4-of-8 shooting through the frame, ballooned its lead to 34-14 as Loyola Chicago capped the half with two made free throws.

Audrey Deptula and Bernard connected on back-to-back treys with under five minutes left in the third quarter to give Loyola life. Theodorsson's layup at the 3:15 mark was the encore as Loyola kept the Flyers within 20 points (48-28).  

In the fourth quarter, Dayton kept its hot hand and made it an 83-45 affair before the final horn sounded.

Notes

• The Ramblers were 30-percent from the field on 13-of-43 shooting.
• Dayton, who entered the night averaging a 39-percent clip from the field, ended the game 61-percent on 30-of-49 shooting.
• Behind Theodorsson and Bernard in the scoring column were Kira Chivers and Alexa Kinas who scored four points each.
• Kinas tallied a team-best four rebounds and four assists.

Up Next
The Ramblers have a short turnaround as the team is next in action this Sunday (Jan. 5) at George Washington. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. CT with the game streaming live on ESPN+.