FAIRFAX, Va. – Loyola Chicago’s late fourth-quarter rally fell short Wednesday night, resulting in a 59-54 loss to George Mason at EagleBank Arena. The ramblers (6-11, 2-4 Atlantic 10) shot 40% from three-point range but were unable to overcome George Mason’s efficiency at the free-throw line.
Loyola Chicago mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter but ultimately lost to George Mason despite strong shooting from beyond the arc.
- Alexa Kinas led Loyola Chicago with 17 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
- George Mason’s free-throw shooting (14 of 15) proved decisive in the outcome.
- Loyola Chicago forced 15 turnovers, converting them into 15 points.
- The Ramblers will continue their road trip at George Washington on Saturday.
Loyola Chicago connected on 6 of 15 attempts from beyond the arc, while holding George Mason to 36.4% shooting from the field, according to information released by Loyola Ramblers Athletics. Despite these efforts, the Patriots (11-6, 6-0 Atlantic 10) were able to secure the win.
How it happened
George Mason opened the game with an 8-0 run, building an early 10-2 lead before Loyola Chicago responded with a 5-0 spurt, capped by a three-pointer from Rosalie Mercille, to pull within 10-7 with 4:46 remaining in the first quarter. The Patriots closed the period on a run to take a 14-9 lead.
The patriots extended their advantage to 25-14 midway through the second quarter, but the Ramblers answered with five straight points, highlighted by a three-pointer from Kinas. Loyola Chicago continued to chip away but went into halftime trailing 29-23 after being outscored by one point in the period.
George Mason pushed its lead to double digits early in the third quarter, building a 44-31 advantage. Loyola Chicago responded with a 6-0 run, punctuated by a three-pointer from Alexus Mobley off a turnover, to trim the deficit to 44-37 with one minute remaining. the Patriots closed the quarter ahead 46-37, despite the Ramblers shooting 50% from the field in the frame.
George Mason stretched its lead to a game-high 15 points early in the fourth quarter before Loyola Chicago mounted a 12-0 run, capped by a Kinas three-pointer, to cut the deficit to 54-51 with 2:17 remaining. The Ramblers outscored the Patriots 17-13 in the final period and held George Mason to 14.3% shooting in the quarter,but the Patriots sealed the game at the free-throw line down the stretch.
Why It Matters
While Loyola Chicago demonstrated a strong offensive effort from three-point range and a tenacious defensive performance forcing 15 turnovers, George Mason’s ability to capitalize at the free-throw line proved to be the difference. This loss marks the Ramblers’ fourth in the Atlantic 10, highlighting the competitive nature of the conference and the importance of consistent performance throughout the game. The Ramblers will need to address their slow starts and maintain defensive pressure for all four quarters to find success in conference play.
“We had a really exciting game here tonight,” said Loyola Chicago Head Coach Allison Guth.”We held them to 59 points when they average 72, so we were really proud of our defensive effort. We had opportunities to win this thing in the fourth quarter, but we came up short.”
Up Next
The Ramblers end their road trip at George Washington this Saturday (Jan. 17) at 1 p.m. CT.
