Box Score MOLINE, Ill. - Led by a combined 43 points by seniors Kerri Gasper and Marley Miller, the University of Evansville displayed an impressive comeback attempts in a 90-80 loss to Loyola in the first round of the MVC Tournament on Thursday afternoon in Moline, Ill.

Gasper and Miller each finished with more than 20 points as Gasper scored 23 points and Miller added 20 for the Aces. Two other Aces scored in double-figures as Bishop recorded a season-best 17 points and freshman Makayla Wallace contributed 10 points. The Ramblers were led by Abby O'Connor who tallied a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Evansville started out the game taking an 11-9 lead on a three by Miller from beyond the NBA arc with 4:16 left in the opening quarter. Following the three, Loyola closed the period on a 15-0 run, taking a 24-11 lead after the first quarter. The Ramblers built their lead as large as 24 late in the second quarter, but Evansville trimmed its deficit in the closing minutes. In a critical play with 1:20 left in the first half, senior Kerri Gasper hit a triple and was fouled, going to the charity stripe and converting the free-throw to move the Aces within 18 at 46-28. Evansville held Loyola scoreless over the final 1:20, heading to the break down 46-28.
 

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Box Score (PDF)

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In the third quarter, the Ramblers maintained its advantage, as Evansville kept pace with Loyola. The Aces cut Loyola's lead to 17 on a three by freshman Makayla Wallace just two minutes into the second half, but the Ramblers responded with a triple of their own to push their lead back to 20. As the quarter waned, Loyola pushed its lead to its largest point of 26 with 1:43 left on the clock in the third quarter before taking a 69-46 lead into the fourth period. The fourth quarter featured a strong comeback effort from Evansville as the Aces cut their deficit to 16 at 79-63 with 4:43 remaining in the fourth quarter. Drawing within 12 twice in the final five minutes, Evansville trailed by 14 after a layup Loyola pushed the Ramblers' lead back to 14 with 2:26 left in the game. A three by Bishop brought Evansville within 10 and Bishop nearly trimmed Loyola's lead to single-digits with another triple, but Bishop's effort spun out with 1:34 left to play. A three-pointer by Bishop brought Loyola's lead to just seven, but Evansville could draw no closer as the Ramblers' earned the 90-80 win.

Evansville's season comes to a close with the loss as the Aces end the 2018-19 campaign with a 4-26 overall record.
 

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