Miscues fuel Loyola.
For as much attention as its offense has garnered over the past three years, Loyola’s defense has been its constant. The Ramblers thrive when they can create indecision in opposing ballhandlers, leading to turnovers and upending their opponents’ game plan.
On Monday, the Ramblers led by just three points after the first quarter against Fenwick. Shots weren’t falling, and they had a couple of turnovers as they settled into the game. But they remained in control of the game because they disrupted the Friars’ rhythm offensively by constantly swarming ballhandlers and playing in the passing lanes.
Loyola beat Fenwick 52-24 on Monday because of a tenacious defensive effort, which has been its calling card to start the season.
“That’s where we get all our energy,” said senior guard Marycait Mackie, who scored 11 points and grabbed two rebounds. “We’re feeding each other off, switching, talking, communicating. That’s where we start, whether shots are falling or not.”
Entering Monday’s game, Loyola (4-0) had allowed 33, 23 and 16 points over their first three games. Those low scores are a sign that the team is playing hard, making the proper rotations, and giving the requisite effort to slow teams down.
Senior guard Kaitlyn McGovern was incredibly impactful against Fenwick. She face-guarded Fenwick guard Avani Williams and blanketed her. Williams hit one three-pointer in the first quarter but didn’t have a field goal made for the rest of the half. Mackie also took turns on Williams, limiting her to nine points and rarely letting her get a clean look.
“Kaitlyn’s our glue, as well as [senior guard Clare Weasler],” Ramblers coach Jeremy Schoenecker said. “It’s not an easy thing to do to face guard; you’re going to provide a lot of energy on one side of the floor.”
The Ramblers allowed just 14 points in the second half. They started pressing the Friars, and Fenwick couldn’t handle the pressure. That’s where Loyola thrives. Their offense goes to another level when they’re able to force live-ball turnovers and get out in transition, where their guards thrive.
“We emphasize communication all the time,” said junior guard Madison Locke, who scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds.
While the defense is already in midseason form, the shots aren’t falling for the Ramblers at their usual rate, but the old adage is that defense travels.
Monday’s game was played at the Ramblers’ pace, even in the half-court setting. Whereas in years past the Ramblers were led by their guards, this Ramblers team plays off of Locke and junior forward Emily Naraky (14 points and 10 rebounds). Once Naraky gets the ball in the post, she’s able to attack a closeout, hit a spot-up jumper, or find a cutter slashing toward the basket.
“Emily’s a point guard out of the post,” Schoenecker said. “She’s been running the floor extremely well. I think she had four or six points just in transition.”
For a team that feeds off constant movement and relocating, having a forward who can pass like Naraky opens up so much for the team.
“I don’t think there’s been a [passing] read this season where she hasn’t passed out when she should have gone up or gone up when she should’ve passed out,” Mackie said. “She’s awesome.”
Shot-making tends to even out over the course of the season, but it’s important that the Ramblers are already connected on the defensive side. The Ramblers have been to the Final Four of the IHSA Class 4A playoffs — winning a 4A state title in 2024, and finishing fourth last season — so Weasler, Mackie and McGovern know what it takes to not only get to Illinois State, but also to succeed in Bloomington-Normal.
The team’s buy-in on the defensive end stems from having players who have developed within the team’s system.
“It’s all about creating that culture and building it,” Schoenecker said. “They just understand that defense is not only going to win games in November, but in March as well.”