Southern Illinois University
5-7 (2-5MVC)
Loyola University Chicago
7-4 (5-2MVC)
Brockmeyer's double-double not enough for Salukis in loss to Ramblers
01/31/2021 | 5:39:00 | Women's Basketball
Brockmeyer averaged 21.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in Southern's two-game series at Loyola.
Senior Abby Brockmeyer recorded her third double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Southern Illinois University women's basketball team but it wasn't enough as the Loyola Ramblers pulled out a 55-46 win inside Gentile Arena.
The Salukis (5-7, 2-5 MVC) struggled to get in a rhythm against the Ramblers (7-4, 5-2) as the home team held the Salukis to 32.0% (16-of-50) shooting, and SIU made just 23.5% (4-of-17) of its three-point attempts. To make matters worse, Southern turned the ball over 21 times, which included 11 first-half turnovers and was just 6-of-12 from the charity stripe.
"So close but yet so far," eighth-year head coach Cindy Stein said. "I really believe in this team but no one beyond Abby Brockmeyer is playing the way they are capable of. Gabby Walker came in and gave us some good minutes at the end to get us back into the game. The two were really tough to defend but we didn't give them the ball in good spots. We have to also be able to make our free throws when we get fouled. I've said it from day one- our effort is outstanding but we have to find a way to grind this out. We have to choose to do hard- this is hard right now and we have to choose to step up and continue to battle. We have to continue to get better."
Loyola, on the other hand, took advantage of SIU's turnovers and converted on 44.2% (19-of-43) of its attempts from the floor. The Ramblers shot 50.0% (11-of-22) in the second half and made five of its seven attempts in the fourth quarter. Loyola also was able to turn its 21 turnovers into 22 points- conversely, Southern turned over Loyola 18 times and were only able to come away with four points.
Southern stayed in the contest despite not shooting the ball particularly well thanks to its rebounding prowess. SIU won the battle of the boards, 35-to-27, which included a healthy 16-to-6 margin on the offensive glass. The Salukis turned their 16 offensive boards into 15 second-chance points while the Ramblers had just two second chance points.
Southern cut their deficit to one, 25-24, early in the third quarter behind a three by Makenzie Silvey off of a back tap from Brockmeyer. Loyola countered with nine-straight points to build a 34-24 lead with 3:15 to play in the third.
SIU got Loyola's lead down to four twice in the fourth quarter, which included on a three-point play by Brockmeyer with just over four minutes to play. The Ramblers, however, responded with six-straight points to seal the win.
"As I told our team I believe in them and we are better than this," Stein said. "We can't use COVID as an excuse because no one in the country cares. No one cares that we've had to go through quarantine, that our kids aren't in shape or that we've had to battle through these games. We've got to step up, choose to do hard, stick together, believe in ourselves and show everyone the team we are capable of being."
The Salukis were led again by Brockmeyer, who posted her 22nd career double-double in the loss. The senior from Raymond, Ill. was terrific all weekend, as she averaged 21.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in the two-game series.
Gabby Walker provided Southern with a spark off the bench as she finished with six points and five boards in 17 minutes of work. Makenzie Silvey added eight points while Payton McCallister and Quierra Love chipped in seven and six points, respectively.
Loyola was led in scoring by Ellie Rice, who finished with a career-high 19 points.
SIU returns home next weekend to host the Illinois State Redbirds. The two-game set begins on Friday, Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. inside Banterra Center.
