VCU women’s basketball snaps its three-game losing streak against Loyola Chicago, 60-50

Thailon Wilson, Staff Writer

VCU came into the game against Loyola University Chicago on a three-game losing streak and after the final whistle, it came to an end, as the Rams prevailed 60-50. 

The first quarter started with both teams stepping up defensively and limiting each other to only scoring one field goal for the first two minutes, giving the Loyola University Chicago Ramblers an early 3-2 lead. 

The defensive matchup continued to heat up until VCU sophomore guard Grace Hutson went on a personal five-point run to give the Rams an 8-5 lead with five minutes remaining in the first quarter. 

VCU women’s basketball head coach Beth O’Boyle said she was happy to see the ball movement leading to scoring opportunities. 

“It was great to see us moving the ball the way that we did. Unselfish plays is a good piece of our team,” O’Boyle said.

This momentum helped them offensively, but it also helped the Rams defensively. The black and gold held the Ramblers zero points from the seven-minute mark until there was 48 seconds left in the quarter.

After another 6-2 run, the black and gold ended the first quarter with a 14-7 lead.

The second quarter started off with the Ramblers and the Rams going back and forth for the first four minutes of play, but the Rams kept a 19-14 lead.

The back and forth scoring output continued for both teams, but VCU maintained its 21-16 lead with four minutes left in the half. 

VCU freshman guard Timaya Lewis-Eutsey scored six points in the last three minutes to help maintain a 31-25 lead for the black and gold to end the half. 

At halftime, VCU brought out alumni from past teams to the middle of the court, where each player received a standing ovation for their contributions to the program.

O’Boyle said it was great to be able to represent in front of so many alumni who once played for the Rams.

“There’s such a great history of women’s basketball here at VCU,” O’Boyle said. “These former players laid the foundation for us and it was exciting to be able to earn the win in front of them.” 

After the standing ovation and some rest time, the third quarter came underway with Loyola Chicago bringing the ball up the court.

The Ramblers scored the first seven points of the third quarter, which eliminated VCU’s lead and tied the game at 31-31 after a three pointer by Loyola Chicago senior guard Anna Brown with eight minutes left.

The black and gold went on to go on a 7-3 run to give the black and gold a four-point lead heading into the media timeout with four minutes left in the third quarter. 

The Rams built their lead to 46-38 after some inside looks from VCU junior forward Chloe Bloom to end off the quarter.

Bloom’s inside presence led her to score her career high 19 points this game, according to VCU Athletics.

Bloom said the Rams designed plays to get her open inside to give her good looks in the paint.

“That was our game plan. I could keep attacking the paint and they kept passing it in,” Bloom said.

VCU started off the fourth quarter in similar fashion, where they went to Bloom, who scored the first bucket of the quarter with a layup to increase the Rams lead to 48-38.

The Rams went on a 6-0 run which increased their lead to 54-40 with six minutes remaining in the game.

The Ramblers attempted to etch away at the VCU lead, but the black and gold maintained a 56-44 lead going into the final media timeout of the game. 

Loyola Chicago tried to cut the lead down with seconds left, but VCU outlasted the Ramblers and won, 60-50.

VCU will be hosting the La Salle University Explorers here at the Stuart C. Siegel Center for Education Day on Wednesday, Feb. 1. For ticket information visit vcuathletics.com. The game will be televised on ESPN+.