VCU suffers heartbreak against Loyola Chicago, 52-50

Andrew McGhan, Staff Writer 

VCU women’s basketball lost to Loyola University Chicago by a missed, game-tying shot on Feb. 26.

VCU won two of their last three games, according to VCU Athletics. Loyola, on the other hand, lost eight consecutive games heading into their matchup against the Rams, according to Loyola Ramblers.

At the start of the first quarter, VCU jumped out to a 8-2 lead over Loyola. 

Loyola started to find their offensive groove by going on a 7-4 run to make the score 12-9 with VCU leading with four minutes to go in the first quarter. 

For the next two minutes of play, no team could make a shot. Both teams were playing hard defense.

Loyola first-year forward Roisin Grandberry made a jumper to cut their lead by one making the score 11-12 at the one-minute mark, according to StatBroadcast. Grandberry then made a last second layup at the end of the first quarter to take the lead for Loyola.

At the end of the first quarter, Loyola led VCU 13-12.

Both teams were shooting 5-14 from the field, according to StatBroadcast. Loyola also had more rebounds by the end of the first quarter with 10 in comparison to VCU’s eight rebounds.

To open the second quarter, VCU third-year guard Grace Hudson made a three-pointer to take the lead and make the score 15-13, according to StatBroadcast.

Loyola proceeded to go on a 14-to-1 run by the one-minute mark making the score 27-16, according to StatBroadcast. During Loyola’s run VCU shot zero of 10 from the field, while Loyola was shooting five of five from the field.

VCU was able to finish the half with a 5-3 run with the score 30-21 in Loyola’s favor, according to StatBroadcast.

At halftime, Loyola was shooting 40% from three and 46% from the field, while VCU was shooting 27% from the field and 20% from three, according to StatBroadcast.

Some of the defensive breakdowns that VCU was having in the second quarter were due to the team having a lack of communication on the defensive end, according to VCU interim head coach Kirk Crawford.

“The biggest thing is that we were not communicating in the second quarter when those defensive breakdowns were occurring. But I knew at halftime, with adjustments, we would come out and we did better defensively,” Crawford said.

The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair with VCU trying to cut into the ten-point lead Loyola built up in the first half of play.

VCU attempted nine more shots than Loyola, according to StatBroadcast. VCU attempted 17 shots in the third quarter compared to Loyola’s eight shot attempts, VCU only converted seven of those shots.

Loyola was still able to keep their lead by the one-minute mark in the third quarter because Loyola scored 10 points off of free throws, according to StatBroadcast.

With 17 seconds left in the third quarter, VCU third-year guard Mary-Anna Asare dribbled the ball up the court and made a last second three-pointer to beat the buzzer to cut Loyola’s lead to seven heading into the fourth quarter.

The buzzer beater by Asare was a momentum swing for the team but they needed that energy throughout the game, according to Crawford.

“It was certainly an energy booster, but we needed that energy the entire game, and we can’t wait for a big play to give us energy,” Crawford said.

At the end of the third quarter the score was 44-37 with Loyola still leading.

By the four-minute mark in the fourth quarter VCU went on a 10-4 run to cut the Loyola lead to make it a one score game, according to StatBroadcast. 

With the score being 48-47, Loyola’s third year forward Emma Theodorsson made a driving layup to make the score 50-47, according to StatBroadcast. 

For the next three minutes of play, no team could make a basket. Turnovers were caused by both teams and hard defense was played throughout.

VCU fourth-year forward Valentina Ojeda checked into the game and made the game tying three, making it the first time since the first quarter that the game was tied with 40 seconds left, according to StatBroadcast. 

The next Loyola possession, third-year guard Kira Chivers made a jumper to make the score 52-50 with 16 seconds left to go.

Coming out of the timeout VCU played the ball into second-year guard Zoli Khalil who pulled up for a jumper but missed as time expired.

This game marked the last home game of the season for the Rams.

There was a feeling of sadness for the seniors on the team to lose their last home game, according to Crawford.

“Certainly a disappointing loss at home for our seniors that will have played in the Siegel for the last time in their careers,” Crawford said. “That’s my first thought that I have for those seniors that will never play in the Siegel again.”

VCU women’s basketball will face off against La Salle University at the Henrico Sports & Events Center on Wednesday, March 5.