Schilb's Big Effort Leads Loyola Past UIC, 66-62 -- Saturday, March 3 2007
DAYTON, Ohio - Blake Schilb scored a game-high 31 points to power third-seeded Loyola University Chicago (21-10) to a 66-62 victory over sixth-seeded Illinois-Chicago tonight at the Nutter Center in a second round game at the Horizon League Tournament. Loyola advances to tomorrow's semifinal round where it will face No. 2 seed at 18th-ranked Butler (26-5).

UIC scored the first five points of the game and led by as many as seven points in the first half. Trailing 28-21 with 4:59 left in the period, the Ramblers shook off the slow start and went on a 14-2 run over the next three-plus minutes to seize a 35-30 lead and took a 39-34 lead into the break.

Loyola led 49-44 with 8:39 left but three straight baskets, capped by a three-pointer from Schilb, stretched the advantage to 56-44. Much like last Saturday's meeting between the teams, the Flames rallied late and sliced the Loyola lead to 62-60 with 43 seconds remaining. But Schilb came up big when the Ramblers needed him most, converting a conventional three-point play, hitting a tough jumper from the baseline and then draining the ensuing free throw after drawing the fifth foul on Othyus Jeffers.

In addition to the 31 points, Schilb hauled in eight rebounds and added two steals, a block and an assist. Andy Polka tallied seven points and corralled a season-high 12 rebounds as Loyola owned a commanding 40-26 advantage on the boards.

Softball Wins Opener, Settles For Doubleheader Split With UC-Riverside -- Saturday, March 3 2007
Riverside, Calif. - Lindsay O'Gean's two-run single capped a four-run sixth inning as Loyola (1-1) rallied from a 5-3 deficit to claim a 7-5 win in their season-opener this afternoon at UC-Riverside. The Highlanders (8-9) earned the split with a 12-3 win in the second game of the doubleheader.

Loyola opened the season strong, denting the scoreboard in the very first inning of game one. Freshman Stephanie Cihlar drew a one-out walk and promptly stole second. She advanced to third on a ground out before coming in to score on a clutch, two-out hit from Kat Krause that gave LU the early lead. They held the lead until the bottom of the third, when Riverside erupted for four runs to take the lead. However, the Ramblers answered right back, plating a pair in the fourth to get back within a run. Krause opened the inning with an infield single and came all the way around on a Raven Gengler double. After a walk, freshman Ellen Kresl knocked in Gengler with a single to left but a double play and a caught stealing got the Highlanders out of the inning without any further damage.

After a single run by UCR in the bottom of the fifth, the Ramblers mounted their decisive rally in the sixth. With one out, Krause reached on an error by the UCR centerfielder and stole second. Gengler singled Krause to third and then stole second herself, giving LU a pair of runners in scoring position. After a walk loaded the bases, Kresl delivered a sacrifice fly to make it a 5-4 game. An infield single from Ashley Mitchell reloaded the bases and O'Gean followed with her base hit through the right side, clearing the bases as Mitchell was able to score on the throw.

Freshman Amy Solava picked up her first collegiate with with 4.1 innings of solid relief, allowing just one run on three hits with six strikeouts.

Loyola struck early in game two, as RBIs from Nora Schober and Angie Funston helped stake the visitors to a 3-0 lead but the Highlanders responded with seven in the bottom of the inning and cruised from there.

Loyola continues its California swing tomorrow with a pair of games tomorrow. The Ramblers open at UCLA tomorrow at noon before facing Florida at 7:30 p.m.

Blake Schilb Named NABC First Team All-District 11 -- Wednesday, February 28 2007
CHICAGO - One day after being named First Team All-Horizon League for the third time in his career, Loyola University Chicago senior Blake Schilb has been selected First Team All-District 11 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). With first-team designation, Schilb is now eligible for the NABC national All-America ballot.

The 6-foot-7 guard, who earned Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America honors a year ago, was joined on the District 11 First Team by Alando Tucker (Wisconsin), Drew Neitzel (Michigan State), Dominic James (Marquette) and Jamaal Tatum (Southern Illinois). Schilb has averaged 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game this year to help Loyola to its first 20-win season since 1984-85. Randal Falker (Southern Illinois), Wilson Chandler (DePaul), Kammron Taylor (Wisconsin), Jerel McNeal (Marquette) and Warren Carter (Illinois) comprised the second team.

Schilb was one of only two Horizon League players to earn first team all-district honors, joining Butler's A.J. Graves in District 10. A pair of Horizon Leaguers, Mike Green (Butler) and DaShaun Wood (Wright State), were named Second Team All-District 10.

This season, the high-scoring, versatile guard climbed to fourth place on the Loyola career-scoring chart with 1,819 points and also became the school's all-time leader with 200 three-point field goals. He is the only player in Rambler annals to compile 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists in his career and this season recorded 400 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists for the third consecutive year.

Schilb has scored in double figures on 23 occasions this season, topping the 20-point plateau on seven occasions, including a season-high 32-point effort in a victory over Youngstown State on Jan. 29. He tossed in 28 points and dished out five assists to lead the Ramblers to a 75-71 victory at No. 15 Butler on Feb. 22 to give Loyola its first win over a ranked opponent since 1986.

Loyola opens play at the Horizon League Championship in Dayton, Ohio, on Friday, March 2 versus either Illinois-Chicago or UW-Milwaukee.

Schilb, Kou Earn Horizon League Men's Basketball Honors -- Monday, February 26 2007
CHICAGO - Loyola University Chicago senior guards Blake Schilb and Majak Kou have been selected First Team All-Horizon League and All-Defensive Team, respectively, it was announced today by the League office. Voting was conducted by the League's head coaches, sports information directors and selected media members.

The versatile Schilb, a 6-foot-7 guard, earned First Team All-Horizon League accolades for the third straight season, joining Alfredrick Hughes as the only players in Loyola history to achieve first team all-conference status three or more times. Despite battling nagging injuries this season, Schilb, the preseason selection as the Horizon League Player of the Year, has averaged 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game. The fourth-leading scorer in Loyola history with 1,819 points, Schilb has scored in double figures in 23 appearances this season, topping the 20-point plateau on eight occasions, including a season-best 32-point performance versus Youngstown State, Jan. 29.

Schilb was joined on the first team by A.J. Graves (Butler), Othyus Jeffers (UIC), DaShaun Wood (Wright State) and Quin Humphrey (Youngstown State). Earning second team honors was Mike Green (Butler), Brandon Cotton (Detroit), Rvyon Covile (Detroit), Ryna Evanochko (UW-Green Bay) and Mike Schachtner (UW-Green Bay).

Kou was named to the All-Defensive Team for the second straight year after averaging 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. The 6-foot-5 guard usually draws the defensive assignment of guarding the top offensive player on the opposing team and his efforts have been key in Loyola allowing only 64.9 ppg this year. In addition to his defensive prowess, Kou excels on the offensive end as well, contributing 13.4 ppg.

Joining Kou on the all-defensive squad was Covile, Wood, Scott VanderMeer (UIC) and Terry Evans (UW-Green Bay).

The Horizon League All-Newcomer Team was comprised of Mike Green (Butler), Pete Campbell (Butler), Paige Paulsen (UW-Milwaukee), Todd Brown (Wright State) and Vaughn Duggins (Wright State).

DaShaun Wood of Wright State captured Horizon League Player of the Year honors while Butler's Mike Green was hailed as Newcomer of the Year. Todd Lickliter of Butler was named Coach of the Year.

Loyola opens up play at the Horizon League Championship, Friday, March 2, when it will face either UIC or UW-Milwaukee in the quarterfinal round at Wright State University.

Loyola Men and Women Finish Fourth at Horizon League Championships -- Monday, February 26 2007
Ann Arbor, Mich. - Loyola's Amanda Domich won Horizon League titles in both the 3,000 and 5,000-meter races as both the men's and women's indoor track and field teams finished fourth in this weekend's Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships in the University of Michigan Indoor Track Building. In their first league championship under first-year head coach Rick Wemple, the women's team compiled 71 points while the men had 76. UW-Milwaukee swept both league team titles for the second consecutive season.

Amanda Domich led the Rambler women by winning titles in multiple events: the 3,000 and 5,000-meter runs. Domich ran a season-best time of 10:16.56 to win her first-ever 3,000-meter crown then won her second-career 5,000-meter title with a 17:57.50 effort.

Sophomore Pam Staton won her first Horizon League Championship with a career-best 2:18.59 performance in the 800-meter dash. This is the second consecutive meet that Staton has established a new personal best in the event after 2:20.16 run last weekend in the UW-Milwaukee Double Dual.

Marcia Faustin was the main Loyola presence in the field events. Faustin's 5-05.25 (1.66m) effort earned her fourth consecutive high jump championship by two inches over Youngstown State's Jen Grayson. Faustin is only the second student-athlete in Horizon League history to win the high jump four consecutive years, joining Detroit's Kim Jess who claimed the title each season from 1994 to 1998.

The Loyola's men's team got a boost in the sprints as freshman Nick Herold won his first Horizon League championship in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.10 to edge Youngstown State's Eric Baltputnis by .01. Teammates Jimel Denham (7.12) and Edmund Blankson (7.16) followed in third and fourth place, respectively. Denham and Blankson added another pair of second and third-place finishes in the 200-meter dash as well. Denham took second with a time of 22.16 while Blankson finished third in 22.45.

Fifth-year senior Shawn Lucas led Loyola's distance runners on the men's side and won his first-career Horizon League Championship in the 1,000-meter run with a personal-best 2:33.26 effort to beat out Butler's Chris Smith.

Loyola's final indoor meet before the NCAA Indoor Championships is on Friday and Saturday at the Alex Wilson Invitational in Notre Dame, Ind.

Loyola Softball Geared Up For 2007 Season -- Monday, February 26 2007
A year ago, Loyola University Chicago's roster featured 10 freshmen, and although the team is still considered young this year with six more freshmen added to the mix, third-year head coach Yvette Healy is optimistic her team can challenge for the Horizon League crown in 2007.

"We are still a young team, but we had a successful fall season even though we had some people missing time due to injury," Healy said. "To beat Northwestern at Northwestern gives us some confidence. I can sense a shift in our poise to play well and compete with nationally ranked teams. Now we need to build on our wins against those NCAA Tournament teams to really break through."

Last spring, Loyola got some of those aforementioned breakthrough wins as it knocked off then-Big Ten leader Michigan State, and won at Notre Dame for the program's first win over the Irish since 1999. This season, Healy will look to a strong core of seniors - Raven Gengler, Tara Miller and Nora Schober - to provide the leadership necessary for such a young, but talented group.

"Our leaders are phenomenal people and excel both on the field and in the classroom," Healy said. "They have a great work ethic and approach to the game. It is exciting for me to be coaching them for a third year since they wholeheartedly buy into the direction we are taking program. It's always fun when you have a returning all-region player. That was a great honor for her and our program. It's even better when you have enough depth and talent that someone else on the team was voted most valuable player."

That all-region player, only the third Rambler to earn such an honor, was Tara Miller, who batted a team-high .357 with 60 runs scored, eight home runs, eight doubles, 24 RBI and 34 stolen bases. The First Team All-Horizon League outfielder was plunked by a team-high 14 pitches and was one of only two Ramblers to start all 61 contests in 2006. Hitting out of the lead-off spot in the batting order, Miller set the table for the Loyola offense by owning a .466 on-base percentage.

She will be joined in the outfield this season by fellow senior Nora Schober, who was voted team MVP and was selected as Loyola's Female Athlete of the Year after enjoying a breakthrough season. The versatile outfielder, who was playing only her second full season after missing all but one game of her freshman year due to injury, hit .327 with team highs of 13 doubles and 43 RBI, which fell one shy of the Loyola single-season standard. The Second Team All-Horizon League honoree also belted eight home runs and swiped 15 bases.

Gengler saw most of her time behind the plate last year and was a threat to hit the long ball each time she stepped into the batter's box. The slugging backstop hit two home runs and drove in 23 runs and finished the year with five hits in her last nine at-bats.

Junior infielder Kat Krause, who earned Second Team All-Horizon League honors in 2006, is coming off a record-setting season in which she smacked a school-record 11 home runs, which pushed her into the top spot on the LU career chart with 15, as well. She should see time on the left side of the infield this season. Junior Lindsay O'Gean, one of the best fielding infielders in the League, should assume the second-base duties again this year after starting 59 contests a year ago.

A pair of sophomores who saw plenty of action a year ago should also vie for playing time as utility players this spring. Kaycee Tharp, who saw time both in the infield and outfield as a freshman, was named to the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team after batting .286 in circuit play. Kristin Guska, a strong player with some pop in her bat, hit a pair of home runs and saw most of her action last season at first base. Also competing for playing time is junior outfielder Katie Duffy, who saw action in 37 contests in 2006, sophomore catcher Margaret Parkinson, who saw limited action behind the plate and infielder Alexandra Trudnich, who displayed a keen eye with 14 walks in only 59 plate appearances as a freshman last spring.

Loyola returns only one pitcher from last season that won a game, sophomore Krista Crosson. The right-hander won nine games a year ago and struck out a team-high 87 batters in 157 innings of toil. Once again, the Ramblers will rely on a youthful pitching staff to learn on the job.

Healy welcomes five freshmen and a pair of transfers to the mix this season, a group that should see plenty of playing time this spring. Transfers Ashley Mitchell and Shannon Roney have enjoyed successful careers at Marshall and Lewis, respectively and should contribute immediately.

Five true freshmen also join the fold. Speedsters Stephanie Cihlar and Ellen Kresl will compete for playing time in the outfield, adding amazing offensive sparks to the lineup. Amy Solava, Angie Funston and Kristen Medrud are versatile and adept enough to both pitch and play in the field. Funston should see time on the left side of the infield when she is not pitching, utilizing her power and speed. Both Solava and Medrud add power with the ability to hit the long ball.

"This year's freshmen reflect our total approach to the game," Healy said. "Several of them are on academic scholarships and they are humble, hard-working young ladies that are also extremely talented players.

This season, Loyola will again play a challenging schedule as it kicks off the season against perennial contenders UCLA and California, along with Florida and Stanford, while also playing non-conference games versus regional powers DePaul, Notre Dame and Northwestern, among others.

"Being in the Chicagoland area is a huge advantage," Healy said. "Because of our location, we are right down the street from teams that regularly win the BIG EAST, Big Ten and Mid-American Conferences, competing in the NCAA Tournament. We don't want our conference championship to be the hardest game we've played all year. We are competitive and have a talented group that wants to see where it stacks up against the best teams in the country."

When all is said and done, the Ramblers hope to stack up on top of the Horizon League and earn their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.

No. 11 Loyola Wins Seventh Straight Match, Beats Ball State 3-1 -- Monday, February 26 2007
Muncie, Ind. - The No. 11 Loyola University Chicago men's volleyball earned its seventh consecutive win with a 36-34, 30-32, 30-23, 31-29 win against Ball State at Worthen Arena on Saturday in Muncie, Ind.

The Ramblers (12-3, 4-2) were led by match-high 17 kills and .538 hitting percentage by senior middle blocker James Grunst. Three other Ramblers recorded double-figure kills, including Ian Anderson with 16 followed by Nathan Gustus with 13 and Joe Guntli with 12.

Brian Guntli registered a team-high 49 assists along with 15 digs. Two other Ramblers were in double-figures in digs: Nathan Gustus led Loyola with 16 and Zach Bailey had 11.

Loyola out-hit Ball State .215 to .196 to overcome a 14-8.5 deficit in blocking. Loyola was led by Anderson, who had a match-high seven blocks.

The teams battled throughout the first set with 26 ties and 11 lead changes. Ball State led 34-33 off a Matt McCarthy kill but the Ramblers stormed back with three consecutive points to end the game at 36-34.

There were18 ties and 11 overall lead changes in game two. Loyola had the first game point at 29-27 but allowed Ball State to come back and tie the game at 29 and 30. A Cardinal block assist would give Ball State its first game point then a Rambler attack error led to a 32-30 game two victory.

With the score tied at 13, a key Loyola run put the Ramblers in control of the game and the match. The Ramblers reeled off four points and Ball State would not get closer than three points for the duration of the game.

The match tightened back up in the fourth game as the teams tied at 24-24. The Ramblers took control with a pair of unanswered kills but the Cardinals quickly tied the match back up at 29 points apiece with a pair of kills. A Grunst kill gave Loyola the advantage in the match with a kill before BSU attack error ended the game at 31-29.

Ball State had two players with double-double efforts. Todd Chamberlain had a season-high 16 kills and would pace all players with a career-high 17 digs for his second double-double of the season. Mark Rumschik would add 10 digs for his first double-double of the year. Ball State's Jeff Schmitz dished out a match-high 50 assists.

Loyola plays Carthage at 7 p.m. on Thursday in Kenosha, Wis.

Late Rally Lifts UIC Past Loyola, 52-51 -- Monday, February 26 2007
CHICAGO - Loyola University Chicago (20-10, 10-6 Horizon) saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end as Illinois-Chicago (13-17, 7-9 Horizon) rallied from a seven-point deficit with 2:35 left in the game to post a 52-51 victory tonight at the Gentile Center in the regular-season finale for both teams. The Ramblers will face the winner of the UIC - UW-Milwaukee game on Friday, March 2 at 5 p.m. Central at Wright State University.

The first half was a defensive struggle as both teams shot under 30 percent from the field, but Loyola took a 23-20 lead into the break on the strength of a combined 17 points from seniors Blake Schilb and Majak Kou. The Ramblers never trailed in the period and led by as many as seven (16-9) after a Schilb hoop but had to settle for a three-point lead at intermission after an Othyus Jeffers basket in the final 30 seconds.

After a Robert Bush hoop to open the second half, Loyola's J.R. Blount accounted for all eight points, including two three-pointers, in an 8-0 spurt that pushed the Ramblers lead to nine, 31-22, less than three minutes into the period. The Flames began to chip away, pulling even at 34 on a Jovan Ignjatovic basket. A three-pointer from T.J. Gray moments later gave UIC its first lead of the game, 37-35, but the Ramblers quickly regrouped and regained the lead courtesy of four Blount free throws. Jeffers converted a missed free throw into a lay-up to give UIC a 44-43 lead but an 8-0 LU run, highlighted by six points from Schilb, helped the Ramblers open up a 51-44 advantage with 2:35 on the clock. However, those would prove to be Loyola's last points of the game as three-pointers from Gray and Mayo cut the deficit to one and, after another Rambler miss, Mayo hit a 10-foot fadeaway jumper from the baseline with just under 10 seconds remaining to complete the comeback.

Blount, who scored 14 points in the second half, and Schilb led the Ramblers with 18 points apiece. Kou joined the duo in double figures with 10 points. Mayo led the Flames with 14 points.

Loyola Bounces No. 15 Butler, 75-71 For First 20-Win Season Since 1984-85 -- Friday, February 23 2007
INDIANAPOLIS - Blake Schilb scored 28 points and Tracy Robinson hit five free throws in the final 36 seconds to lead visiting Loyola University Chicago (20-9, 10-5 Horizon) to a 75-71 victory over No. 15 Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse tonight. The victory was a landmark for Loyola for several reasons - it snaps a 17-game losing streak to the Bulldogs at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse, it gives the Ramblers 20 wins for the first time since 1984-85, and it is their first win over a ranked opponent since 1986.

"I'm just real proud of our guys," Loyola head coach Jim Whitesell said. "This was a great team win over a great Butler team."

Butler led for most of the first ten minutes of the game before Schilb's three-pointer put Loyola on top, 22-21, and ignited a 9-2 run. Schilb hit a three-pointer with seven seconds left to give the Ramblers a 38-33 lead and Pete Campbell had a three-pointer waved off after the horn following a review by the officials as LU took a five-point lead into the break.

Loyola built on that edge by scoring the first seven points of the second period to take a 45-33 lead, its largest of the night, with 18:07 left in regulation. Butler whittled the Ramblers' lead down to four points, before LU scored the next six to build the advantage back to double digits at 52-42. Butler surged ahead, 58-57 on a pair of Brandon Crone foul shots with just over seven minutes to play and the teams essentially traded leads for the next six minutes.

Andy Polka's conventional three-point play with 1:17 left put Loyola ahead for good, 70-69 and Robinson buried five of six tries from the foul line in the final minute to seal the victory.

Schilb dished out five assists and added three rebounds, a pair of steals and a block. Majak Kou tallied 13 points and Polka chipped in nine points and five caroms. A.J. Graves posted 24 points to lead Butler.

Loyola closes out the regular season Saturday when it hosts city rival UIC at 7 p.m. The Ramblers' senior class will be honored in a pregame ceremony.

Loyola Eases Past Detroit, 73-61 -- Friday, February 23 2007
Detroit, Mich. - Freshmen Shannon Finnegan and Maggie McCloskey led five Loyola players in double figures with 15 points apiece as Loyola jumped out to a a big first-half lead and held on for a 73-61 win over Detroit tonight at Calihan Hall. Loyola snaps a four-game losing streak with the win and improves to 7-18 (5-9 Horizon) while the Titans fall to 4-24 (1-14) with the loss.

Finnegan and Jenna Real were the catalysts of a first-half run that saw Loyola open a 25-9 lead at the under eight-minute media timeout. A pair of Real free throws later in the half helped LU extend to a 35-16 bulge before the Titans scored the last five points of the half to make it 34-21 at intermission. Finnegan hit all five of her field goals in the period and surpassed her previous career-best in the opening 20 minutes with 10 points. Real was equally productive inside, also contributing 10 in the period.

After a McCloskey three-pointer gave LU a 40-21 lead in the early minutes of the second half, Detroit began to battle back. However, each time the Titans challenged, Loyola had an answer. Holding a 60-56 lead at the 3:06 mark, a pair of Elyse VanBogaert hoops inside and a steal and three-point play from Jennifer Juergens boosted the lead back to double figures and the Ramblers sealed it from the line, hitting 7-of-9 from the stripe in the last 90 seconds.

Finnegan and McCloskey were joined in double figures by Real (12 points), Marquise Hanser (11 points, seven rebounds, five assists) and VanBogaert, who scored eight of her 10 points in the second half.