CHICAGO (Interstat) — Loyola Chicago held off Oakland for a 59-56 women’s basketball victory Monday afternoon at Joseph Gentile Center. The Ramblers improved to 3-7, matching the Golden Grizzlies’ record. Oakland led 27-26 at halftime, but Loyola Chicago used a 17-point third quarter to take a lead it would not relinquish. Alex-Anne Bessette led all scorers with 18 points for the Ramblers. Clara Djoko added 10 rebounds and five assists. Lianna Baxter paced Oakland with 12 points. The Golden Grizzlies, who have lost five of their last six, next play at Illinois State on Friday. Loyola Chicago, which snapped a two-game skid, visits Northwestern on Thursday. Attendance was 3,825.

CHICAGO (Interstat) — In a game defined more by grit than grace, the Loyola Chicago Ramblers capitalized on a staggering 23 Oakland turnovers to escape with a 59-56 victory in a nonconference women’s basketball game Monday afternoon at Joseph Gentile Center. A crowd of 3,825 watched as the Ramblers, despite shooting just 34.4% from the field, hounded the Golden Grizzlies into mistake after mistake, converting those miscues into 19 critical points. The win evened both teams’ records at 3-7 on the season. The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final chaotic minute, with Loyola Chicago clinging to a 57-56 lead. After Oakland’s Angie Smith committed an offensive foul with 24 seconds left, the Ramblers had a chance to seal it but missed two shots. Oakland’s Makenzie Luehring secured the defensive rebound with 10 seconds remaining, giving the Golden Grizzlies a final opportunity. Out of a timeout, Oakland’s play broke down, resulting in a heavily contested three-point attempt by Luehring that missed with 3 seconds left. Loyola Chicago’s Clara Djoko secured the defensive board and was immediately fouled. Djoko missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Oakland’s last-ditch heave was off target as time expired, preserving the narrow win for the home team. The contest was a defensive struggle throughout, with both teams posting offensive ratings below 82 points per 100 possessions. Oakland’s 23 turnovers, against only two assists, proved an insurmountable obstacle despite a strong defensive effort of their own that included 10 blocks and held Loyola to 4-of-13 shooting from three-point range. Loyola Chicago was led by Alex-Anne Bessette, who scored a game-high 18 points, including two crucial free throws with 5 seconds left to extend the lead to three. Rosalie Mercille added 13 points, while Alexa Kinas chipped in 11 points and four assists. Djoko was a force on the glass, pulling down 10 rebounds to go with five assists. Oakland’s effort was spearheaded by Lianna Baxter with 12 points and five rebounds. Makenzie Luehring also scored 12 points, and Angie Smith contributed 10 points and three blocks. The Golden Grizzlies won the rebounding battle 42-38 and shot a slightly better percentage from the field (40%) but could not overcome the disparity in ball security. The game featured 13 lead changes and was tied nine times. Oakland led 16-13 after a first quarter but a 15-11 edge in the second gave Loyola a 28-27 halftime advantage. The Ramblers extended the lead to 45-40 after three quarters, setting the stage for the tense final period where neither team led by more than four points. Oakland’s previous game was a 72-55 home loss to Cleveland State on Dec. 6. Loyola Chicago entered the game off a 58-45 home loss to Western Michigan on Dec. 7. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Loyola Chicago was projected with a 73.9% probability to win. Oakland travels to face Illinois State on Friday. Loyola Chicago visits Northwestern on Thursday.

Preview: Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Loyola Chicago Ramblers CHICAGO (Interstat) — Two teams seeking to halt extended slides will meet Monday when the Oakland women’s basketball team visits Loyola Chicago at Joseph Gentile Center. Both programs enter the nonconference matchup mired in losing streaks. Oakland (3-6) has dropped four straight games since a Nov. 26 win over Saint Thomas. Loyola Chicago (2-7) has lost five of its last six, with its lone victory in that span coming against DePaul on Nov. 26. The Golden Grizzlies are coming off a 72-55 home loss to Cleveland State on Dec. 6. In that game, Cali Denson led the team with 14 points, while Makenzie Luehring added 13 points and four assists. Forward Layla Gold, a key player to watch for Oakland, contributed nine points, five rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes. Gold has been a consistent presence, averaging 9.4 points and 4.0 rebounds over her last five contests. She scored a season-high 13 points in a road loss to Michigan State on Nov. 23. The Ramblers are looking to rebound from a 58-45 defeat to Western Michigan on Dec. 7. Guard Kira Chivers shouldered the offensive load in that loss, scoring 18 points. Her production has been variable, however, as she was held to four points or fewer in three of the previous four games before the Western Michigan contest. Oakland’s defense, which allows an average of 69.2 points per game, will aim to contain Chivers and find more consistent scoring after being held under 60 points in three of its last four outings. Loyola Chicago’s offense has struggled more profoundly, failing to reach 50 points in four of its last five games. Historically, this is a rare meeting between the programs. The game offers a critical opportunity for either team to build momentum before the bulk of their conference schedules begin next month. For Oakland, the contest is the second of a three-game road trip before hosting Fort Wayne on Jan. 2. Loyola Chicago will quickly turn around to face Northwestern on the road Thursday. Tipoff is set for Monday afternoon in Chicago.