In Short…
Sam Galanopoulos and Abby O'Connor both scored in double figures, as host Bradley (19-4, 10-2 MVC) dealt Loyola University Chicago a 71-50 defeat this afternoon at Renaissance Coliseum in Peoria, Ill.  Today's result drops the Ramblers to 15-9 overall and 6-7 in Missouri Valley Conference action.
 
How It Happened
Following a Lasha Petree three that put Bradley on the board first just seven seconds in, buckets from Jala Johnson and O'Connor gave Loyola a slim 4-3 edge at the 5:49 mark as offense proved tough to come by early on.  Another Johnson score shortly after moved Loyola back in front, 6-5, but Bradley finished the quarter with an 11-2 surge to open up a 16-8 advantage.
 
The Braves continued to operate at an efficient clip to begin the second quarter, pushing their lead to 24-10 on a Petree fastbreak score, prompting a Loyola timeout with three minutes gone.  Tiara Wallace and Galanopoulos both connected from beyond the three-point arc as part of a spurt that saw Loyola trim the margin back down to single digits, 29-20, following an Ellie Rice layup with 2:14 to go.  Both teams would go cold down the stretch in the first half, with a Nyjah White layup providing the only offense inside the final two minutes as Bradley took a 31-20 lead into halftime.
 
Baskets from Rice and Alexis Meyer early on in the second half saw Loyola close within eight, 35-27, as the Ramblers hit on four of their first six attempts from the field coming out of the locker room.  Following an O'Connor split at the line that cut the gap to 35-28, Tatum Koenig drained a three to push the Bradley lead back into double figures, 38-28, with 6:22 remaining.  Despite being held to just 31 percent (4-of-13) shooting in the third quarter, the Braves did their damage from the free throw line, hitting on 11 of their 12 attempts from the charity stripe on their way to opening up a 51-38 lead.
 
Bradley kept its foot on the gas in the fourth quarter, stretching its lead to 61-42 lead just in front of the midway point of the frame following five straight points from Chelsea Brackmann.  Loyola looked to battle its way back from outside, with Galanopoulos and Janae Gonzales both knocking down threes, but was unable to get closer than 13 as Bradley closed out its 17^th consecutive win on its home floor.
 
Inside The Box Score
- Galanopoulos finished with a team-best 12 points (4-10 FGs, 2-2 3FGS, 2-2 FTs), cracking the 10-point mark for the fourth time this season.  Led by Galanopoulos' effort, Loyola's bench outscored Bradley's reserves by a 21-5 margin.
- O'Connor scored in double figures for the 18^th time, adding 10 points (4-11 FGs, 1-4 3FGs, 1-2 FTs) in addition to seven rebounds and a pair of steals.
- Brackmann closed the day with 20 points (6-10 FGs, 1-1 3FGs, 7-7 FTs) and 11 rebounds to pace a trio of Braves in double figures.
 
Up Next
Loyola opens up a three-game homestand on Saturday, February 22 when it battles Valparaiso at 2 p.m. inside Gentile Arena.