CHICAGO (Interstat) — A dominant fourth-quarter surge propelled the Loyola Chicago women’s basketball team to a 66-55 victory over VCU on Saturday at Joseph Gentile Center, overcoming a sluggish start to secure the win in front of 834 fans.

The Ramblers, who improved to 12-11, were led by a standout performance from Alexus Mobley. The 5-foot-7 guard from Indianapolis scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists, spearheading the comeback. Her backcourt partner, Alexa Kinas, orchestrated the offense with eight points, seven rebounds and six assists.

VCU, which fell to 8-16, controlled the game for the first three quarters but could not withstand Loyola Chicago’s final push. The Rams were paced by a double-double from Lucy Ghaifan, who had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Katarina Knezevic, who added 11 points and nine rebounds.

The game’s defining shift came in the final period. After trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half and entering the fourth quarter down 45-41, the Ramblers unleashed a 25-10 run to close the game. The turnaround was fueled by defensive intensity and clutch shooting. Loyola Chicago forced eight VCU turnovers in the fourth quarter alone, converting them into critical points.

The Rams had built their lead on the strength of interior play, scoring 40 points in the paint and capitalizing on 17 offensive rebounds. They led 16-9 after a first quarter where both teams struggled from the field, and maintained a 29-25 advantage at halftime. VCU extended the lead to seven points early in the third quarter before the Ramblers began to chip away.

Loyola Chicago’s defense was the catalyst, finishing with 12 steals and forcing 23 total VCU turnovers. The Rams’ offensive struggles were compounded by poor shooting from distance and the free-throw line; they made just 3 of 18 three-point attempts and a crippling 2 of 10 from the charity stripe. In contrast, the Ramblers, while also struggling from deep at 4 for 21, capitalized at the line, making 10 of 15 free throws.

Brooklyn Vaughn provided a crucial interior presence for Loyola Chicago, posting a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Her defensive work, including a key block in the fourth quarter, helped stifle VCU’s attack when it mattered most. Kira Chivers added nine points and three assists, with several of her baskets coming during the decisive run.

For VCU, Ty Williams finished with 10 points and nine rebounds, and Ann Zachariah contributed six points and five rebounds. The Rams’ ball movement was stifled by the Ramblers’ pressure, resulting in only six assists against their 23 turnovers.

The victory gives Loyola Chicago momentum as it heads into a road game at Duquesne on Wednesday. VCU looks to rebound when it travels to face Rhode Island, also on Wednesday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Loyola Chicago entered the game with a 59 percent probability to win, a forecast validated by their resilient fourth-quarter performance. The Ramblers’ ability to flip the game’s momentum over the final ten minutes, turning a tight contest into a double-digit win, was the most important part of the game, underscoring their defensive tenacity and clutch execution when the outcome hung in the balance.