AMHERST, Mass. – Emma Theodorsson recorded her highest point total in the last eight games, leading Loyola Chicago with 16 points in Wednesday's road matchup against Massachusetts. However, the Ramblers couldn't slow down UMass' offense and fell 87-62 at the Mullins Center.

"When you look at the stat sheet, you'll see some familiar struggles," said Loyola Chicago Head Coach Allison Guth. "But the biggest step forward for us was how we responded in-game to our mistakes. For example, if we turned the ball over against pressure, we found a way to get a defensive stop and come back with aggressive, positive offense that worked in our favor."

How it Happened
Naelle Bernard set the tone from the opening tip, stealing the ball away from Massachusetts on its first possession and turning it into a 3-pointer on the other end. On UMass' next try, the Ramblers' defense forced a turnover while Emma Theodorsson drew a foul under the Minutewomen's basket. She converted one-of-two to give Loyola its largest lead (four points) of the game. Later, Audrey Deptula sunk a wide-open three from Alexa Kinas to put LUC up, 15-14, with 4:02 left in the first quarter. Massachusetts, however, responded with a 13-2 run to close the frame.

The Ramblers opened the second quarter with gumption, igniting a 9-3 run that culminated in a clutch 3-pointer from Kira Chivers, cutting the deficit back to four points (30-26). UMass again responded, ballooning the lead back to double digits after Allie Palmieri's three sparked a 7-0 run. Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr stymied the run with two makes at the charity stripe, but the Minutewomen ended the quarter outscoring Loyola, 6-3, to hold a 31-43 halftime lead.  

After UMass led Loyola Chicago by 23 (62-39) at the 3:42 mark of the third quarter, Sitori Tanin helped the Maroon and Gold gather some momentum in the final moments of the frame with a make under the net. Deptula followed Tanin's lead, sinking a triple in the corner on an inbound while Tanin completed the hoop-and-harm three-point play to make it a 17-point game (64-47) with time winding down in the third.

After Massachusetts started the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run, the Ramblers responded with a 10-1 stretch of their own to make things interesting. UMass composed itself though and dominated through the remainder of the quarter on a 39-percent (5-of-13) clip and scoring 11 at the free throw line.

Notes

• Theodorsson led the way for the Ramblers with 16 points, her 10^th game in double figures this season.
• Tanin wasn't far behind, scoring 14 while corralling a team-high eight rebounds.
• Roisin Grandberry notched a career-best six rebounds.
• Chivers totaled a team-high four assists.
• The team ended the night 19-of-56 (34-percent) from the field and 10-of-30 (33-percent) from downtown.
• 10 Ramblers had at least two points in the loss.

Up Next
Loyola Chicago plays its penultimate regular season contest next Wednesday (Feb. 26) at VCU. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. CT on ESPN+.