Game Notes vs. Loyola

Horizon League Network

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CHICAGO -- The Detroit women's basketball team will close out its Chicago road swing on Saturday as the Titans face its Jesuit rival Loyola in a game that could well determine playoff seedings for the upcoming Horizon League Championship. Tip-off is slated for 3:00 p.m. (EST) at the Alumni Gym next to the Gentile Center.

Both Detroit and Loyola enter the game with identical 11-15 overall records, including 5-10 in league play. Both teams are still alive to move up to sixth place and get a bye in the opening round of the conference tournament, but a win by the Ramblers would put them a game ahead in the standings with just two to play as well as give LU the tiebreaker over UDM due to sweeping the Titans in the regular season.

Meanwhile, a win by Detroit coupled with a Valparaiso loss at Milwaukee would ensure that at the very least, the red, white and blue would finish no lower than eighth giving the Titans a home game in the opening round.

In the opening round of the HL tournament, the winner of the 7/10 game will play whoever finishes second in the standings – currently Butler - while the winner of the 8/9 match-up will travel to face top-seeded Green Bay in the quarterfinals.

The game is also part of the nationwide Jesuit Basketball Spotlight project, using Jesuit basketball to raise awareness of Jesuit education. The Jesuit Basketball Spotlight project highlights more than 90 games this season between men's and women's teams from the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities across the United States. Each of the 28 is dedicated to strong academics and teaching women and men to serve others and live a faith that does justice. For more information on Jesuit higher education in the United States, visit www.ajcunet.edu.

DETROIT VS. LOYOLA
The Titans six-game winning streak against its Jesuit conference rival came to an end in January as Loyola won an 88-77 decision in overtime. Detroit has still won eight of the last 10 against the Ramblers, and lead the overall series, 43-20.

Detroit is 17-12 all-time against Loyola in Chicago, winning three of its last four trips.

ABOUT THE RAMBLERS
Loyola has dropped four in a row to fall to 11-15 overall and 5-10 in Horizon League play. Loyola's latest setback was a 77-66 contest to Wright State on Thursday.

The Ramblers and Titans are currently tied for seventh place in the HL.

The Ramblers are led by Monica Albano, who is fourth in the Horizon League in scoring at 16.7 ppg. Ellen Ayoub tops the team in rebounding at 5.4 per night to go with 10.8 ppg., Abby Skube is tallying 9.6 ppg., while Lindsey Sebetic is fourth on the squad in scoring at 9.0 ppg.

LAST TIME VS. LOYOLA
Sophomore Dominique Dixon caused the crowd to erupt with a three to send it to overtime, but the Titans could not finish the comeback in the extra session as Detroit was tripped up by Loyola, 88-77,

The Titans used a relentless rebounding effort to send the game into overtime grabbing three offensive boards in the last 25 seconds, before Dixon nailed a three to tie the game at 71-all. Dixon started the three-point barrage by missing a three and getting her own rebound. Britney Murphy then missed a three, but Yar Shayok collected the board. She would pass it to sophomore Cherridy Thornton, who launched a trey of her own that missed, but again corralled by Shayok, who kicked it out to Dixon for the game-tying shot.

Four Titans scored in double figures led by Dixon's game-high 27. Shayok posted a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds, while Murphy netted 13 markers and a career-best five steals.

Detroit was down by 18, 60-42, with 10:48 left in the game when the Titans came to life closing the half on a 29-11 charge to tie the game.

LONGEST RIVALRY IN SCHOOL HISTORY
This will be the 64th meeting between the two Jesuit schools, the longest in Titan history.

The programs first met on Jan. 8, 1983 in Chicago as Loyola won, 67-54.

GOOD NUMBERS VS. LOYOLA
Three Titans have really turned it on against Loyola, led by Yar Shayok. In four games against the Ramblers, she is averaging 11.7 points, 14.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game. She has double-digit rebounds in three games and a pair of double-doubles, including a 14-point, 15 rebound effort in the first meeting. She also has her career high in boards with 17 last season.

Jalesa Jones is averaging 7.4 ppg., 3.0 apg., and 3.2 rpg., in seven career meetings, which includes a 20-point, six-rebound, six-assist effort in last year's HL tournament victory.

Lauren Allen, who missed the first game back in January, is tallying 9.0 ppg., and 4.8 apg. She has three double-digit scoring games in six meetings, with two coming last year, as well as recording five or most assists in for career contests.

DETROIT TAKING IT AWAY
Detroit tied its season high by forcing UIC into 25 turnovers on Thursday. The Titans also forced Wright State into 25 miscues on Jan. 15.

Detroit has now forced at least 15 turnovers in 16 games on the year, including nine contests with 20+ turnovers. Six of the 20+ turnover games have come against conference foes.

Below is a look at some of the Titans' big defensive days (and the points they have scored off turnovers.)
- 25 turnovers at UIC (18)
- 13 turnovers vs. Cleveland State (17)
- 21 forced turnovers vs. Loyola (14)
- 22 forced turnovers at Cleveland State (9)
- 25 forced turnovers at Wright State (28)
- 23 forced turnovers vs. Butler (14)
- 19 forced turnovers vs. Valparaiso (29)
- 20 forced turnovers at Milwaukee (24)
- 22 forced turnovers vs. Marygrove (29)
- 22 forced turnovers vs. Ball State (30)
On the year, the Titans have caused 434 turnovers, an average of 16.6 per game.

UDM HOLDING TEAMS UNDER 60
Detroit held UIC to just 53 points its last time out, the 10th time this year that UDM held an opponent under 60 points.

The Titans have also twice held an opponent under 50 with a 52-43 victory against Youngstown State and a 67-48 win at Michigan.

UDM is currently third in the HL allowing just 63.3 points per game.