DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team lost, 68-51, to Davidson on the road Wednesday night at Belk Arena. Naelle Bernard led Loyola's efforts with 13 points and four rebounds while Thoranna Kika Hodge-Carr and Kendall Hendrix chipped in seven each.

"There were moments in this game where I thought we fought, battled, and executed a solid game plan to disrupt Davidson," said Loyola Chicago Head Coach Allison Guth. "I liked that we went to a platoon sub early to bring energy off the bench, and our second group really stepped up, contributing 18 of our 22 first-half points. That was really good for us. But tonight, it was about consistency."

How it Happened
The Ramblers opened the scoring with a layup from Kika Hodge-Carr at the 7:27 mark in the first quarter. Rosalie Mercille, making her first appearance since Dec. 21 against Evansville after recovering from an injury, wasted no time making an impact. She drilled a 3-pointer on her first attempt, extending Loyola's lead to 5-2 early in the game.

After a quick 5-0 run from the hosts midway through the quarter, Emma Theodorsson and Jess Finney responded, with Theodorsson hitting a pull-up jumper and Finney knocking down a 3-pointer to put Loyola back in front, 10-7. Davidson closed the quarter on a run, scoring twice to take a 16-12 lead over the Ramblers.

Brooklyn Vaughn opened the second quarter with a turnaround jumper, while Hendrix connected on a second-chance 3-pointer at the 6:50 mark. However, Loyola endured a 10-0 Davidson run before Bernard halted it with two free throws and a 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to 29-22. Both teams tightened their defense in the final two minutes of the half, and Davidson took a 30-22 lead into the locker room.

Loyola (11-12, 3-9 Atlantic 10) suffered a four-minute field goal drought in the third quarter before Bernard's driving layup at the 5:42 mark made it a 14-point game at 42-28. Davidson then hit a 3-pointer to extend its lead to 48-29, but Hendrix sparked an 8-0 Maroon and Gold run at the 4:29 mark to keep Loyola in contention. The Wildcats closed the quarter with two baskets and a free throw to push their lead back to 14 at 53-39.

Loyola once again struggled with a four-minute field goal drought to start the fourth quarter. The Ramblers got to the free-throw line five times in the final 10 minutes, but Davidson (12-11, 7-4 Atlantic 10) maintained its lead and never let Loyola cut the deficit to single digits. The Wildcats secured the 68-51 victory.

Notes

• Loyola was 33-percent from both the field (13-of-39) and deep (5-of-15).
• Loyola's bench outscored Davidson's, 36-14. Tonight was the second-straight game and eighth total this season LUC's bench outscored its foes.
• Bernard led the way, coming off the bench to score a team-high 13 points. She also tied her season-high with four rebounds.
• Hodge-Carr and Hendrix, who notched a career-high, followed with seven a piece.

Up Next
Loyola Chicago ends its two-game road swing at Saint Joseph's on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 9). Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. CT on ESPN+.