Poor Shooting Performance Sinks Women’s Basketball Against VCU 52-36

Loyola women’s basketball fell to Atlantic 10 opponent Virginia Commonwealth University Jan. 13 in their worst offensive performance of the season, scoring just 36 points while shooting 26% from the floor and 15% from three. 

Second-year guard Kira Chivers led the way for the Ramblers with eight points while fourth-year forward Aaliyah Moore and fourth-year guard Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr contributed six points each. Fourth-year guard Sarah Te-Bisau spearheaded the winning effort for the Rams, leading her team with 26 points and three assists. 

Loyola came into the game 8-7 overall and 2-2 in conference play after defeating the University of Rhode Island 61-56 Jan. 10. VCU traveled to Rogers Park sitting at 14-2 and 3-1 against A-10 opponents. 

The Rams jumped to a quick 8-0 lead on the back of two Te-Bisau threes. Hodge-Carr got the Ramblers going after Eurostepping around a defender and finishing at the rim to make it 8-2. VCU added two more layups before Loyola graduate forward Emma Nolan used the backboard while posted up to get the Ramblers’ second bucket now down 12-4. Graduate guard Alyssa Fisher added one at the line before the end of the first quarter making it 12-5 going into the second. 

Graduate guard Sam Galanopoulos connected on a three to open scoring in the second and brought Loyola within four. Second-year VCU guard Timaya Lewis-Eutsey came right back and scored a layup making it 14-8. A few plays later Galanopoulos found Moore cutting from the top of the key for an easy two points, tightening the game at 14-10. 

Fourth-year Ram forward Jennifer Ezeh scored twice at the rim. Then Moore received a pass inside and added two more to her total making it 18-12. Out of an official timeout, Moore drained a mid-range jumper before VCU went on a 6-0 scoring run to finish the half ahead by double digits at 24-14. 

Te-Bisau got the Rams going out of the break with a driving layup while the Ramblers turned the ball over four times, forcing head coach Allison Guth to call timeout after two minutes of play in the third quarter. 

Following the timeout, VCU had a lengthy possession where they grabbed three offensive rebounds until Ti-Bisau connected on a deep three, giving the Rams a 29-14 lead. Loyola scored their first points of the half on an inbound play which set up Hodge-Carr below the basket, while VCU added on six more.

Chivers got the Rambler offensive going when she pulled-up for a three. Graduate forward Sophia Nolan then made one of her own bringing it to 37-22. Ti-Bisau made one at the line before Chivers drove hard into the paint using her fingertips to lay it in, bringing the score to 38-14 with just a few seconds left in the third quarter.

First-year guard Audrey Deptula drew a foul driving to the rim and made the extra free throw, converting on the 3-point play and giving the Ramblers momentum early in the fourth quarter. Graduate VCU forward Samantha Robinson responded on the next possession with a driving layup of her own making it 40-29.

Hodge-Carr made a pull-up jumper in the paint while Tu-Bisau added to her total with a driving layup, bringing the score to 42-31 with just over five minutes to play. Te-Bisau sank a deep step-back three putting her team up 45-32. After both teams traded a series of empty possessions Emma Nolan got her hand into the passing lane and took it the length of the floor for a breakaway layup making it 45-34. 

With under two minutes to go, the Ramblers began intentionally fouling, but the deficit was too much to overcome. Chivers made two free throws while Te-Bisau added one more three for good measure and VCU closed it out 52-36. 

The Rams outworked Loyola on the boards, ending with 42 rebounds to the Ramblers’ 30. Both teams struggled to hold onto the ball as VCU ended with 16 turnovers to Loyola’s 17. VCU was more successful, shooting 38.8% from the floor and 38.5% from three, although Loyola’s defense still slowed down the Rams — holding them to their lowest point total of the season so far. 

After the game, Guth said the team knew VCU was going to challenge them with their defensive prowess and rebounding ability but said she was proud of how the Ramblers performed defensively against VCU who averages over 70 points a game.

“I think there were some bright spots today in our Rambler defense, I thought we really held our own in moments,” Guth said. “It really comes down to getting outrebounded by 12 and giving up 11 offensive boards, you can’t play a really quality team and do that and think you’re going to be in it.”

Featured image courtesy of Harry Fiegel | Loyola Athletics