ST. LOUIS, Mo. (September 5, 2017) – After unveiling its non-conference schedule last week, the Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team, under the direction of second-year head coach Kate Achter, learned the path it will travel through Missouri Valley Conference play following the release of the full league schedule by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Maroon & Gold will open league play with a challenging two-game swing through the state of Iowa.  Northern Iowa will provide the opposition in the Ramblers' MVC opener on Dec. 29 before a New Years Eve (Dec. 31) clash with Drake, the reigning conference champion.  Loyola will open 2018 within the friendly confines of Gentile Arena as it hosts in-state rivals Bradley (Jan. 5) and Illinois State (Jan. 7).
 
Following its meeting with the Redbirds, Loyola open a three-game road swing against league newcomer Valparaiso on Jan. 12 as part of a stretch that also includes tilts at Southern Illinois (Jan. 19) and Missouri State (Jan. 21).  The month of January concludes as Loyola wraps up the first half of league play against Indiana State (Jan. 26) and Evansville (Jan. 28).
 
Loyola will make the trip down Interstate 55 to begin February as it visits Illinois State (Feb. 2) and Bradley (Feb. 4).  A visit from Valparaiso on Feb. 11 opens up a three-game homestand that will also see the Ramblers welcome Missouri State (Feb. 16) and Southern Illinois (Feb. 18) to Rogers Park.
 
After completing the road portion of its league schedule against Evansville (Feb. 23) and Indiana State (Feb. 25), Loyola opens its final homestand of the 2017-18 campaign against Drake on March 1 ahead of a Senior Day meeting with Northern Iowa two days later (March 3).
 
For a third consecutive season, the iWireless Center in Moline, Ill. will play host to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, March 8-11, where the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament will be up for grabs.
 
Loyola is set to return seven letterwinners from last season to go along with a talented group of six newcomers when it begins competition in November. 

2017-18 Loyola Women's Basketball Schedule
Nov. 7 - Concordia (Exhibition)
Nov. 12 - at Fort Wayne
Nov. 15 - Western Michigan
Nov. 18 - Youngstown State
Nov. 21 - at Milwaukee
Nov. 28 - at Marquette
Dec. 1 - at Chicago State
Dec. 4 - at DePaul
Dec. 6 - at Northern Illinois
Dec. 10 - Green Bay
Dec. 18 - at Butler
Dec. 22 - UIC
Dec. 29 – at Northern Iowa
Dec. 31 – at Drake
Jan. 5 – Bradley
Jan. 7 – Illinois State
Jan. 12 – at Valparaiso
Jan. 19 – at Southern Illinois
Jan. 21 – at Missouri State
Jan. 26 – Indiana State
Jan. 28 – Evansville
Feb. 2 – at Illinois State
Feb. 4 – at Bradley
Feb. 11 – Valparaiso
Feb. 16 – Missouri State
Feb. 18 – Southern Illinois
Feb. 23 – at Evansville
Feb. 25 – at Indiana State
March 1 – Drake
March 3 – Northern Iowa