In Short…
Loyola University Chicago continued its perfect start to the 2019-20 season, fending off host Kansas City (3-3) this afternoon in double overtime, 72-67, at the Swinney Center in Kansas City, Mo.  Today's victory brings the Maroon & Gold to 5-0, matching the 1979-80 Ramblers for the best start to a season in program history.

How It Happened
Offense came easy on both ends of the floor in the first quarter.  Mid-range jumpers on consecutive trips from Allison Day and Kat Nolan gave Loyola an early 6-2 lead with just over 90 seconds gone.  An Ellie Rice triple at the 6:08 mark stretched the margin to five, 13-8, before Kansas City chipped away, pulling even at 15 apiece on an Awal Ajak trey that was followed by a Jada Mickens fastbreak score which gave the hosts a 17-15 edge.  Loyola quickly battled back, with a Janae Gonzales three giving the Ramblers a 22-19 lead heading to the second quarter.
 
Things would remain tight throughout the opening minutes of the second frame, with Kansas City taking a slim 27-26 lead on a Mickens three four minutes in.  Sam Galanopoulos drained a jumper inside on Loyola's next trip down the floor, putting the Ramblers back on top, 28-27.  Mickens' bucket would prove to be the Roos' final of the half, as the Maroon & Gold closed the quarter with nine unanswered points, a run that was capped off by an Abby O'Connor make, to take a 36-27 advantage into halftime.
 
After seeing Kansas City close within six on a pair of different occasions in the third quarter, Loyola used a 6-0 spurt, highlighted by another Gonzales three, to take its largest lead of the afternoon, 44-32, with 6:05 remaining.  Kansas City would get no closer than nine for the remainder of the quarter, with a Rice split at the line staking Loyola to a 51-41 edge after three quarters of play.
 
Slowly but surely, the Roos began to chip away in the fourth quarter.  Following an O'Connor jumper that gave Loyola a 55-49 lead with 4:56 remaining in regulation, threes from Mickens and Ajak, respectively, knotted the game up at 55-55 at the 3:20 mark.  Rice and Cristina Soriano traded scores before both teams went scoreless for the last 1:46 of the fourth quarter, forcing overtime with the score deadlocked at 57-57.
 
Points were at a premium during both of the afternoon's extra sessions.  Emily Ivory connected on a key three with only 1:56 remaining in the first overtime to give the Roos a 62-58 lead.  Loyola refused to go away, responding with the final four points of the frame, the last two of which came on a pair of pressure-packed free throws from Galanopoulos with 20 seconds remaining, to push the game to a second overtime tied at 62-62.
 
With Kansas City clinging to a 67-64 lead following a Mickens paint score, Rice came up with arguably the two the biggest shots of the afternoon, knocking down triples on consecutive trips to vault Loyola back in front, 70-67, with just 1:54 to play.  Loyola would come up with a pair of big defensive stops down the stretch before Tiara Wallace drained a pair of free throws with only three seconds to play, sealing only Loyola's second 5-0 start to a season in program history.     
 
Inside The Box Score
- This afternoon's thriller marked Loyola's first double overtime game since February 11, 1999 and is the Ramblers first overtime victory since a 69-68 triumph at Southern Illinois back on January 10, 2016.
- Day paced a trio in double figures for Loyola with 17 points (8-19 FGs, 1-2 FTs) and also added a pair of blocks.
- Bolstered by two crucial threes in the second overtime, Rice closed the day with a season-best 14 points (4-9 FGs. 3-5 3FGs, 3-4 FTs) in addition to a season-high eight rebounds.
- Galanopoulos came off the bench to add 10 points (1-8 FGs, 8-9 FTs), five rebounds, and three assists.
- Wallace handed out a team-high five assists to go along with seven points and 10 rebounds.
- Loyola clamped down on the defensive end during the two overtime sessions, holding the Roos to just 20 percent (3-of-15) shooting.
- Mickens finished with a game-high 18 points (6-9 FGs, 3-5 3FGs, 3-3 FTs) and 10 rebounds for Kansas City.
 
Up Next
Loyola will be idle through Thanksgiving before it heads west to wrap up against its current road trip against Portland at 4 p.m. (CT) on Sunday, December 1.