Ramblers Round Up Non-Conference Play with a 70-57 Victory Over Evansville

The Loyola women’s basketball team secured a 70-57 victory over the University of Evansville Dec. 21. The Ramblers’ graduate forward Sitori Tanin led all scorers with a season-high 20 points, while the Blue Aces were led by second-year forward Maggie Hartwig.

The Blue Aces got their hands on the tipoff, which was quickly stolen by third-year guard and forward Emma Theodorsson, who foundTanin for a game-opening layup. Hartwig responded with a layup, tying the score at two one minute in. 

After another Tanin layup, a scoring drought from both teams stretched over the next minute and a half. Graduate guard Naelle Bernard broke the ice, sinking a 3-pointer off an assist from Theodorsson. Another layup in the paint by Hartwig ended Evansville’s drought as the Ramblers led 7-2. 

Over the next three minutes, Loyola put up 13 unanswered points with a layup by fourth-year guard Jess Finney, a jumper and layup from Theodorsson, two Tanin layups and a 3-pointer by graduate guard Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr. 

Evansville regained their footing after a lone free throw by fourth-year guard Júlia Palomo cut into the Ramblers lead 20-5 at the end of the first quarter. 

Head coach Allison Guth said she believed the first quarter was a fair assessment of the Ramblers’ gameplay. 

“I do think it reflects the potential our team has to defend with integrity,” Guth said. “I was really proud of the way we came out in this game, setting a tone both on the offensive end and on the defensive side of the ball.” 

The second quarter started with a 3-pointer from second-year guard Rosalie Mercille, but the Blue Aces responded with a jumper in the paint by first-year guard Camryn Runner. It was another minute until Bernard made a layup, bringing the Rambler lead to 25-7.

The next minute saw back-and-forth scoring from both teams. Runner hit a 3-pointer while Mercille retaliated with one of her own and then converted a fastbreak layup to extend the Loyola lead to 30-10.

After an Evansville timeout, Runner made the second of her two free throws, the only score for the next two minutes. Hodge-Carr ended the drought with a layup before Runner made another lone free throw. Evansville continued their attack, scoring two consecutive layups by Hartwig and Palomo making it 32-16.

After a timeout was called by Loyola, Tanin got her hands on an offensive rebound and put back a tip-in. Finney got to the line and hit both free throws, ending the first half with a 36-16 Rambler lead.

Tough third quarter performances continue to haunt the Ramblers this season and reappeared Saturday, as the 20-point lead shrunk to six in just four minutes. 

Loyola started off with a Bernard jumper, but a 3-pointer from Hartwig and a Runner layup made it 38-21. Bernard was able to gett off a 3-pointer. 

A 14-0 Evansville run followed, beginning with layups by Hartwig and Runner, and a 3-pointer from first-year guard Kaiden Kreinhagen after two Rambler turnovers. A series of missed shots by the Ramblers led to a tip-in and layup by Hartwig and a Palomo 3-pointer, making it 41-35. 

A two-point jumper from Tanin pushed the score to 43-35, before she added a lone free throw and converted a fastbreak layup on the following possessions.

A Krienhagen 3-pointer brought Evansville back into the game, and Theodorsson sunk both of her free throws right after, bringing the score to 48-38. 

The quarter ended 52-40 with a two-point jumper from Theodorsson, a tip-in from Tanin and a responding layup from Runner.

Loyola started the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer from first-year guard Alexas Kinas, before first-year Evansville guard Logan Luebbers Palmer responded with a layup.

A Hodge-Carr triple and a successful trip to the line for Tanin brought the score to 58-42. 

A trip to the line by Finney added two more points for the Rambler, Tanin then furthered the lead with a single free throw.

Finney and Palomo exchanged 3-pointers on subsequent possessions, followed by a layup from Hodge-Carr. Palomo was the last to score, hitting a three on a fast break as the game ended 70-57.

With the victory, the Ramblers improved to 8-4 and capped non-conference play on a three-game win streak. Next, the Ramblers remain in Gentile Arena taking on visiting St. Bonaventure University Dec. 29. The game is set to start at 2 p.m. and is available to stream on ESPN+.