Women’s Basketball Drops Crosstown Matchup Against Northwestern

The Loyola women’s basketball team lost 73-64 in a Northshore matchup Nov. 26 to visiting Northwestern University. Kira Chivers led the Ramblers with 17 points — a career high — while Wildcats graduate forward Taylor Williams recorded a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds.

Williams opened scoring with a layup and third-year forward Emma Theodorsson responded with her own a minute and a half later. The Wildcats extended their lead to 6-2 after third-year guard Caroline Lau hit a jumper and third-year forward Grace Sullivan tipped in a layup.

The lead was eviscerated by a 12-point Rambler run, as Chivers hit two threes, graduate forward Kika Thoranna Hodge-Carr finished two layups and fourth-year guard Jess Finney converted on two free throws.

The Wildcats’ scoreless stretch ended as three points were recorded by free throws, but graduate guard Naelle Bernard matched the effort with a 3-pointer for a 17-9 score for the Ramblers. 

With two minutes left in the quarter, Northwestern scored four points with a layup by Sullivan and two free throws by Williams, while Loyola maintained a 19-13 advantage with an additional layup by Hodge-Carr.

A series of scoring exchanges nearly pushed the Wildcats into the lead to start the second quarter. Several layups and free throws against eight combined points from Theodorson and Bernard put the game at 27-22 before Northwestern started to heat up.

A 7-4 run bolstered by three successful trips to the line had the Wildcats down one point, before first-year guard Xamiya Walton sunk a 3-pointer for a 33-31 Northwestern lead. It was short-lived, as second-year guard Audrey Deptula hit a three in response and Chivers scored a layup for a 36-33 score.

Despite a layup by Northwestern’s fourth-year forward Calleigh Walsh in the final minute, Loyola remained in the lead at the close of the first half.

Back-to-back jumpers at the start of the third quarter by graduate forward Sitori Tanin and Bernard extended the Ramblers’ lead to 40-35. A lone free throw by Walsh kicked off an extended third quarter scoring run for the Wildcats.

After Walsh’s free throw and a layup from Tanin, Northwestern finally took the lead after a layup from graduate guard Kyla Jones capped off seven straight points and a 43-42 lead. The Wildcats scored another six straight before a Finney layup steadied the Ramblers.

After Finney’s bucket and with three minutes remaining, Northwestern outscored the Ramblers 9-6 to hold a 58-50 point lead entering the final quarter.

An opening three by Bernard put the Ramblers back within five, but the gap increased to ten after another short Wildcats scoring run came by way of layup, jumpshot and a free throw.

Chivers and Theodorsson combined for six points to negate a successful trip from Sullivan at the line. With under half of the quarter remaining, Chivers continued to score, hitting another 3-pointer and a layup — the Ramblers’ final scoring of the night.

With the Wildcats up 69-64, the Ramblers were unable to muster any more offensive pressure, as Williams hit 22 total points with a layup and second-year guard Casey Harter iced the game with two made free throws for the final 73-64 scoreline.

The largest facet of the Wildcats’ victory was their success with controlling the rebounds during the game — 52 rebounds to Loyola’s 40 — according to Loyola head coach Allison Guth.

“I think we fared pretty well for two quarters,” Guth said. “I really don’t think that caught up to us until the third quarter — second-chance offensive boards, free throw offensive boards and then a couple key turnovers on our end that we didn’t take care of.”

The Ramblers remain at home for a matchup against South Carolina State University Nov. 30. The game is set to start at 1 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.