Arkansas State's women's basketball team dropped a close game to Loyola Chicago on Wednesday night, falling 63-61 at Gentile Arena. The Red Wolves (0-3) took an early lead but were unable to maintain their momentum in the second half as the Ramblers (2-1) secured the victory with a last-second layup.
Crislyn Rose once again led Arkansas State in scoring, finishing with 24 points, seven assists, and four rebounds. This marked her third consecutive game as the team's top scorer. Amina Gray also contributed in double digits, tallying 13 points, two rebounds, and one assist. Jaidyn Elam led the Red Wolves in rebounding, pulling down six boards.
Arkansas State delivered a strong first-half performance, punishing Loyola from beyond the arc. The Red Wolves hit 10 three-pointers in the first two quarters, shooting 33% overall from beyond the arc by game’s end (10-for-30). However, they struggled to replicate that long-range success in the second half, failing to convert any three-point attempts. Arkansas State shot 33% from the field overall (20-for-60).
Loyola Chicago posted similar shooting challenges, hitting just 35% from the floor (22-for-63) and 16% from three-point range (3-for-19). Despite these struggles, the Ramblers used timely scoring down the stretch to secure the win.
The game started with an 8-0 run by Arkansas State, powered by back-to-back three-pointers from Gray, who scored six of those points. Loyola quickly responded with their own 11-point run. Gray once again came through in the final minute of the first quarter, sinking another three-pointer before Rose added a contested layup to give the Red Wolves a narrow 14-12 lead at the end of the period.
Rose’s scoring spree carried through the second quarter, where she sank three three-pointers as part of an 11-2 Arkansas State run. Maya Chocano added to the long-range barrage, knocking down multiple three-pointers, while Audreonia Benson also made back-to-back shots from deep. In total, Arkansas State scored 21 of their 27 second-quarter points from beyond the arc, helping them head into halftime with a strong lead.
Loyola, however, made adjustments after the break, outscoring Arkansas State 19-12 in the third quarter to cut the deficit to eight points. The Red Wolves shot just 25% (3-of-12) in the third quarter, with half of their points coming from free throws.
Scoring slowed for both teams early in the fourth quarter, but Loyola clawed back to tie the game and eventually secured the win with a layup in the final second. An attempt by the Red Wolves to inbound the ball in the game's closing moment fell short, sealing their third consecutive loss.
The Red Wolves will now look to regroup as they prepare for their home opener against Jackson State on Tuesday, November 17, at First National Bank Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.