In Short…
Allison Day turned in one of the most efficient efforts by a Rambler in recent memory as Loyola University Chicago cruised to an 80-61 win over visiting Purdue Northwest in its 2020-21 home opener this evening inside Gentile Arena.  Tonight's victory moves the Ramblers back above the .500 mark on the year at 2-1 overall.
 
How It Happened
Loyola jumped all over its neighbors to the east early on, hitting on each of its first five attempts from the field, as it raced out to a 12-0 lead with just over four minutes gone.  With the Rambler lead sitting at 16-5 following an Alexis Meyer layup, Purdue Northwest rattled off a 7-0 run, capped off by a Mercedes Simmons layup, to pull within four, 16-12.  Sitori Tanin closed the first quarter on a high note for the Maroon & Gold, finishing inside in the closing seconds of the frame to put Loyola up six, 18-12.
 
Much like it at the beginning of the night, Loyola put its foot on the gas to begin the second quarter, with six straight points from Day laying the framework for a 14-0 run that was punctuated by a Maya Chandler triple to stretch the lead to 32-12 at the 5:53 mark.  An old-fashioned three-point play by Dash Shaw trimmed the Ramblers' advantage to 36-21, but a Chandler mid-range score as time expired in the first half sent Loyola into halftime with a 46-27 edge.
 
Chandler picked up right where she left off coming out of the intermission, draining a triple just 30 seconds into the second half to push Loyola's lead above the 20-point mark, 49-27.  The Ramblers would take their largest lead of the evening early on in the fourth quarter, with Sam Galanopoulos finishing on a layup with 8:36 remaining to stretch the gap to 69-42.  Purdue Northwest would get no closer than 18 the rest of the way, as Loyola picked up its third home-opening win in as many years.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Day led all scorers with 18 points, just two off her career high, as she finished a perfect 6-of-6 from the field and 6-of-6 at the free throw line.  The Russellville, Ohio native just missed out on a double-double, collecting nine rebounds.
- Tanin added 13 points (4-8 FGs, 5-5 FTs), while Chandler cracked the 10-point mark for a third consecutive game to begin her career, adding 11 points (4-8 FGs, 2-3 3FGs, 1-2 FTs).
- Galanopoulos also finished with 11 points (5-11 FGs, 1-1 3FGs) and dished out three assists.
- All 14 Ramblers saw action tonight, including the Loyola debut of transfer Bre Hampton-Bey, who closed the evening with six points (2-7 FGs, 2-4 FTs), two rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
- Dash Shaw finished with 16 points (7-13 FGs, 1-4 3FGs, 1-1 FTs) to pace Purdue Northwest.
 
Up Next
Loyola is slated to open Missouri Valley Conference play when it hosts Indiana State, January 1-2.  The New Year's Day matchup with the Sycamores will tip at 12 p.m., while the following day's tilt is scheduled for 1 p.m.