Brittany Byrd scored a game high 19 points, and Kara Wilson set career highs in points, rebounds, and assists, but Loyola (2-1) used a strong fourth quarter to post a come from behind, 75-60 win over UIC (1-2) at Credit Union 1 Arena Saturday afternoon.

Taylor Toney had a season high 14 points.  Freshman Tatum McCall had the highest output of her young career with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting, all from three point distance.  The Flames led by as many as 10 points before shooting just 33% in the fateful fourth quarter.  Loyola made 70% of their field goals (7-10) and 94% of their free throws (15-16) in the final period.  The Ramblers went 27-of-32 at the charity stripe, a location that UIC visited just four times.

First Half Highlights

• UIC committed fouls on each of Loyola's first two trips down the court, but the defense did not let its intensity diminish.  The Flames went on to force three turnovers in the first 3:20.
• On the offensive end, three-pointers by Kara Wilson and Taylor Toney ignited a 10-0 run that put the Flames up 12-4.  Later in the first quarter, Tatum McCall came off the bench and swished two threes of her own.
• Loyola converted a fast break layup in the final seconds of the first quarter, and hit a 3 to start the second, closing the gap to four points.  Brittany Byrd responded by making an impression on both ends of the court, first executing a textbook box-out on the defensive glass and drawing an over the back foul, and then making a tough driving layup.
• Jasmine Gaines made her first triple of the year right before Byrd connected from short range again to give the Flames their largest lead of the half at 27-17.
• Both defenses made a stand in the next sequences.  Jada Nneji and Christelle Nyauchi each blocked a shot on the same Loyola possession.  The Ramblers forced a shot clock violation and nearly made it two in a row, coming away with a steal instead.  After that theft was turned into a fast break layup, Tasha Pointer had to call timeout and used it to full effect, as McCall hit another three right out of the stoppage.
• That triple was the last field goal of the half for either side, as both teams endured a shooting drought for the final 2:25 of the period.

Second Half Highlights

• Byrd made a layup out of the gate, but then Loyola went on an 8-0 run that included two layups by Abby O'Connor, to tie the game at 34.  The Ramblers took the lead on a three-pointer by Janae Gonzales following a stretch in which UIC made just one of six field goals and committed two turnovers.
• Byrd answered again, making a 3 out of a media timeout to put the home team back out in front.  Toney made a driving layup and connected on a behind-the-backboard floater as both teams found their stroke.
• Kara Wilson banked in a triple, and Toney made another jumper to give her seven points in the third quarter.  Both of those baskets gave the Flames the lead, as the advantage exchanged hands 8 times by the end of the third quarter.
• Toney converted after a nice step-through move to put UIC up by three at the outset of the fourth.  That would be the team's biggest lead the rest of the game.
• Kiarra Thompson beat her defender on a baseline dribble and made a layup.  McCall made her fourth three-pointer to make it 56-54 after the sixth lead change of the fourth quarter alone.
• Thompson made another nice move off the bounce but couldn't convert the shot, and Loyola turned the opportunity into a fast break and-one, giving them the lead for good.
• A long two pointer by Byrd ended a 6-0 run and pulled the Flames to within two at the 3:38 mark.  Loyola scored the next 11 points, including a stickback and-one by Gonzales and six straight points - all from the free throw line – by Ellie Rice.

Facts and Figures

• Byrd, Gaines, Toney, Nneji, and Wilson comprised the starting lineup for the second straight game.
• Toney finished with a season high 14 points.
• The Flames converted on a season high nine three-pointers.  Five different players had at least one make from downtown.
• The team assisted on 21 of 25 made field goals, by far the squad's season high.
• UIC also committed a season low 11 turnovers.
• UIC shot 50% in the first half and led by as many as 10 points.  They made just 35% after halftime, but still had a lead as late as with 5:19 to play.
• Wilson led the squad with seven rebounds.  Christelle Nyauchi had a season high four, and three players (Jada Nneji, Byrd, and Toney) had three each.
• Four Ramblers scored in double figures.  Kat Nolan had a game high eight boards.

Highlights


Up Next

• The Flames will return to action after a week off.
• The team will visit Marquette next Saturday at 2:00 pm.