Loyola Blows Away St. Bonaventure by 28 Points in Second Meet Up This Season

Loyola women’s basketball faced Atlantic 10 foe St. Bonaventure University in their second matchup this season, defeating the Bonnies 78-50. During the game, graduate guard Sam Galanopoulos became the 21st member of the program’s 1,000-point club.

Graduate guard Alyssa Fisher led the Ramblers with a total of 26 points, followed by Galanopoulos’ 16 and fourth-year forward Sitori Tanin with 15. St. Bonaventure’s redshirt third-year guard Isabellah Middleton and fourth-year guard Dani Haskell each had 13 points in the loss. 

Tanin won the tip off for the Ramblers and their short-lived possession was interrupted when fourth-year Bonnie guard Nadechka Laccen stole the ball away and found Middleton down the floor for the first bucket of the game. The Ramblers maintained hold of the ball, scoring six points by fourth-year guard Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr, graduate guard Ali Berg and Galanopoulos before an official timeout. 

Fisher grabbed five consecutive points on a layup and a three-pointer, putting Loyola ahead  11-4. Graduate guard Emma Nolan and Hodge-Carr used their defensive skills to block Middleton from shooting

Trips to the free throw line were awarded to Middleton and Galanopoulos, each scoring one point. Haskell attempted to push the Bonnies ahead with four consecutive points, but Fisher came through with a bucket to end the first quarter 19-12 in favor of the Ramblers. 

Middleton opened scoring in the second quarter with a three, which Fisher matched on the other end. Fourth-year St. Bonaventure guard Payton Fields tried to keep the back-and-forth going but missed her attempt. 

Tanin dropped in another three for Loyola before a reverse layup from Galanopoulos. Tanin then scored on a brisk drive to the net, going into a timeout with the Ramblers ahead 29-22 with four minutes left in the half. 

Fisher came out of the timeout strong with a 3-pointer but was halted by a five-point run by Bonnie second-year guard Kirah Dandridge and Haskell. Graduate guard Sophia Nolan picked up the momentum with a steal which set up another three for Galanopoulos. 

Emma Nolan and Fisher were both fouled in the final seconds of the half, scoring three more points to send the Ramblers ahead at halftime 38-27. 

Tanin kicked off the third quarter with a quick bucket, which Laccen countered with a three-pointer. Haskell shot another three before Laccen and Fisher both forced turnovers. Sophia Nolan and Galanopoulos each scored going into an official timeout, keeping the Ramblers ahead at 46-33. 

Fisher made a jumper out of the break and the Bonnies came back with five quick points, including two free throws by fourth-year guard Tianna Johnson and a three-pointer by redshirt fourth-year forward Claire Cody. Third-year forward Taylor Napper made two consecutive layups, ending the quarter with Loyola ahead 57-41. 

Tanin came out strong in the fourth quarter with three points from a layup and an and-one. Galanopoulos attempted to follow this lead but missed on her chance at the line. Berg hit three field goals in a row before missing a three, which Galanopoulos rebounded and made, securing her place in the 1,000 point club. At the next dead ball, head coach Allison Guth called a timeout ahead 72-42 so the team could celebrate Galanopoulos’ achievement. 

Johnson and second-year guard Tamar voor de Poort each made field goals for the Bonnies, who came up short in the final minutes. First-year guard Audrey Deptula, Emma Nolan and third-year forward Destiny Jackson all scored in the final minutes to solidify the 78-50 Rambler win.

Galanopoulos celebrated her achievement post-game, giving credit to her team and coaches for helping her get to this point in her career. 

“You can’t score those points unless they give you the ball,” she said. “They have a lot of trust in me. They give me confidence every single day.” 

Guth talked about the changes made and what the team learned from their first game against St. Bonaventure, which was a 84-72 loss for the Ramblers. 

“The game plan didn’t change, our execution of the game plan changed,” Guth said. “A massive change from the first time we played St. Bonnie’s to now is we’re starting to understand what one more offense looks like. We’re starting to understand the sharing of the basketball.” 

The Ramblers are headed on the road to face Fordham University Jan. 24 and Duquesne University Jan. 28 but will be back in Gentile Arena Jan. 31 to face Saint Joseph’s University. All games can be streamed on ESPN+.

Featured Image by Aidan Cahill | The Loyola Phoenix