CHICAGO - The Loyola Chicago women's basketball team used a dominant fourth-quarter performance to rally past Saint Louis, 71-64, on Sunday at Gentile Arena.

Trailing 55-49 entering the final period, the Ramblers (6-10, 2-3 A-10) outscored the Billikens 22-9 in the fourth quarter and closed the game on a decisive 13-1 run to secure their third straight victory over Saint Louis and their third consecutive win against the Billikens at Gentile.

Alex-Anne Bessette led all scorers with 20 points and added a career-high six rebounds for her second career 20-point game and ninth double-digit scoring effort of the season. Alexa Kinas scored 12 points, all while adding two steals, marking her fourth straight double-digit performance and seventh of the season. Roisin Grandberry chipped in a career-high 10 points off the bench, along with career-best totals of two steals and a team-high two blocks.

"Really proud of this win. It was awesome to be on our home floor at Gentile and to put up the points we know this team is capable of scoring," said Loyola Chicago Head Coach Allison Guth. "We've talked a lot about our offensive production — we had 71 at Dayton on the road — and taking the next step by doing that consistently at home. Our scoring comes off defensive intensity and getting stops, and that's what I'm most proud of. In the fourth quarter, facing adversity, we went on a 22–9 run by staying disciplined with our make-miss principles and matchup concepts. We know we have to get better on the glass against a quality team like that, but this win says a lot about a group that's learning how to win and play to its potential. This team has something special cooking right now."

Loyola Chicago forced 15 turnovers and held Saint Louis to 35.5 percent shooting from the field, the second-lowest mark by a Loyola opponent this season. The Ramblers also recorded five blocks and six steals while winning the offensive rebounding battle 12-5, converting those chances into 13 second-chance points.

How it Happened
Loyola Chicago struck first on a Bessette layup on its opening possession and forced three Saint Louis turnovers in the first three minutes to take an early 6-3 lead. Bessette scored six points in the opening five minutes, and the Ramblers held the Billikens without a made field goal for nearly four minutes late in the first quarter. Saint Louis held a narrow 16-14 edge after one despite committing six turnovers and shooting just 27 percent.

The Ramblers opened the second quarter with baskets from Neveah Dickman and Audrey Deptula to regain the lead, and Deptula's second 3-pointer of the period tied the game at 22. Loyola Chicago then used a 10-2 run to take a 29-24 advantage, highlighted by seven straight points from Bessette. A late 4-0 spurt gave Loyola a 37-31 halftime lead, its largest home halftime advantage of the season.

Loyola Chicago shot 44 percent in the first half, went 11-for-14 from the free-throw line and forced nine Saint Louis turnovers while holding the Billikens to 32 percent shooting. Bessette had 13 first-half points, Alexus Mobley pulled down four rebounds and Grandberry recorded two blocks.

The Ramblers extended their lead early in the third quarter, pushing it to 44-34 on a Kinas 3-pointer, their largest advantage of the game. Saint Louis responded with a 16-0 run before a Kira Chivers 3-pointer stopped the surge. The Billikens outscored Loyola 24-12 in the quarter to take a 55-49 lead into the fourth.

Kinas sparked Loyola Chicago early in the final period with a personal 5-0 run to cut the deficit to three. The Ramblers then held Saint Louis scoreless for more than three minutes, trimming the margin to 61-58. Bessette tied the game at 63 with a 3-pointer, and Loyola seized control with a 9-0 run capped by a Kinas steal and layup. The Ramblers held Saint Louis without a field goal for the final 7:26 and without a point for more than three minutes late.

Loyola Chicago shot 7-for-12 in the fourth quarter while limiting Saint Louis to 2-for-12 shooting. Kinas scored seven of her 12 points in the period, and Grandberry added six.

Game Notes

• Loyola Chicago closed the final 3:41 on a 13-1 run.
• The Ramblers outscored Saint Louis 22-9 in the fourth quarter.
• Loyola Chicago forced 15 turnovers and scored 13 points off them.
• The Ramblers finished with 12 offensive rebounds and 13 second-chance points.
• Alexus Mobley recorded a season-high and team-high nine rebounds.
• Kira Chivers appeared in her 100th career game as a Rambler.

Up Next
The Ramblers head to Washington, D.C., for games against George Mason (Jan. 14) and George Washington (Jan. 17).