MVC Release

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (February 12, 2018) – Fresh off an impressive outing yesterday, Ellie Rice (Austin, Texas/Regents School of Austin), a freshman guard on the Loyola University Chicago women's basketball team, has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, it was announced this afternoon.  This marks the first weekly league honor of her career.
 
Rice poured in a team-high 17 points to lead Loyola as the Ramblers dropped a 63-53 decision to Valparaiso in Rogers Park.  The Austin, Texas native, who also added five rebounds, two assists and two steals, knocked down a season-high five attempts from the beyond the three-point arc against the Crusaders.
 
Rice has taken her game to another level of late, averaging 10.5 points and 4.8 rebounds over Loyola's last six contests, while shooting at a 42.3 percent (11-of-26) clip from three-point range.  She has reached double figures in scoring in four games during the aforementioned stretch.  For the season, Rice currently ranks fourth on the Rambler roster in scoring at 7.3 ppg.
 
Loyola is back in action this coming weekend when it welcomes Missouri State (February 16) and Southern Illinois (February 18) to Gentile Arena.