ABOUT CHICAGO ...
The Maroons enter Wednesday night's match up on the heels of a 76-68 loss to Hope College at the Hope Tournament and amid a tumultuous season. Senior Claire Devaney leads Chicago in scoring (14.8 points per game) and rebounds (5.9 rebounds per game). Joining Devaney in double digit scoring is sophomore Brittany Nordstrom (10.6 points per game). Meanwhile freshman Elizabeth Nye is the Maroons best option from beyond the arc, boasting a 41.4 percent three-point shooting percentage.

This year's matchup will mark the third straight year the two teams have squared off, serving as the rubber match with the series level at one. Chicago topped the Duhawks 73-68 a season ago after Loras earned the 59-56 win in 2012.

CHECKING IN WITH HEAD COACH JUSTIN HEINZEN ...
With just over a third of the season in the books, Loras Women's Basketball Head Coach Justin Heinzen is happy but not satisfied with where his team sits. At 5-3 the Duhawks losses have come to No. 12 UW-Oshkosh, No. 5 Washington University – St. Louis, and a season opening loss to UW-Platteville.

Wednesday's game against Chicago will mark the Duhawks first contest in 11 days, a much needed break for Heinzen's young squad.

Playing the sixth strongest schedule in the country and being a member of the fourth strongest conference in the nation (out of 48), the Duhawks tough start to the season doesn't seem to be getting any easier. With non-conference games against Chicago, Augustana, and No. 14 Wheaton the Duhawks look to take care of business before hitting a hard Iowa Conference schedule in January.

"The last four practices have been our best of the season," Heinzen said. "We've made great strides and have ironed out a lot of the details. Our starting five is getting more comfortable by the day and with more consistent practices I feel like a couple of players have had more time under their belt and are ready to go when needed."

After implanting new offensive sets, new schemes on the defense, and several new faces it seems as though the Duhawks are beginning to find their stride.

"If we continue to move like we have been," Heinzen said. "We're moving in the right direction."

WIN STREAK SNAPPED AT THREE …
Loras' three game win streak came to an abrupt halt in their loss to No. 8 Washington University – St. Louis. A consistent NCAA tournament team and strong contender, the Bears proved to be too much for the young Duhawks squad to handle.

FILLING BY COMMITTEE …
One of the biggest question marks coming into the season dealt with filling the shoes of standout forward Katie Langmeier. While it has not been a single player pouring in 20 points a night, each individual's improvements has helped fill the void. Senior Victoria May (13.9 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game) leads the Duhawks while junior Kaitlin Phillips (13.3 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game) and senior Carly Goede (10.8 points per game) help maintain a balanced offensive attack. Sophomores Lori Obendorf and Terese McMahon may have undergone the largest transformation. As a freshman Obendorf averaged 3.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game sparring Langmeier and May when needed. Her productivity has nearly quadrupled in each category as she averages a double-double (11.1 points per game, 12.9 rebounds per game). McMahon has seen similar success in increased playing time adding 5.1 points per game and grabbing 4.8 rebounds per game.

OBENDORF EARNS PAIR OF INDIVIDUAL HONORS …
Obendorf became the second Duhawk to be named the conference's women's basketball player of the week this season, earning it for her play from December 1-7. The sophomore standout helped Loras to a 1-1 record for the week, highlighted by a 13 point win over Elmhurst. At center, Obendorf grabbed 22 rebounds and recorded 22 points to pace the Duhawks over the week. She also added six blocks, two steals, and an assist while shooting a perfect 100 percent from the charity stripe. Her double-double in the Duhawks loss to No. 5 Washington University – St. Louis also earned her a nomination for Bennett Rankings "Gem of the Week."

BENCH CONTRIBUTIONS KEY TO DUHAWKS SUCCESS …
Paced by freshman Miranda Chapman and sophomore Terese Schultz, the play of the Duhawks bench has been a vital piece to the team's success. Loras holds a 3-0 record when their bench outscores their opponents. While Chapman provides depth at the guard position, Schultz rounds out the three-headed monster in the post alongside sophomore Lori Obendorf and senior Victoria May.

PHILLIPS ELEVATES PLAY WITH DRIVE AND DISH …
The play of junior Kaitlin Phillips has always been noteworthy, earning her first team All-Conference honors a season ago. Phillips came into the season with an improved jump shot and an even more explosive step than a year ago. Her improvements have paid dividends for the Duhawks in the first third of the season but her biggest contribution as of late has been her ability to draw the defenses' attention and kick to the open player. Her 30 assists and 3.75 assists per game average rank third in the Iowa Conference. While helping her teammates to nearly four buckets a game, Phillips also ranks in the top ten in scoring (6th) scoring 13.3 points per game.

THREE GAMES REMAINING IN 2014 …
The Duhawks round out the 2014 portion of their schedule with games against Chicago, Augustana, and No. 9 Wheaton. Chicago marks the second of back-to-back games against University Athletic Association opponents while Augustana will serve as the final home game of the calendar year for the Duhawks. The New Year's Eve cap against No. 9 Wheaton will mark the the second straight year ending matchup between the two. The Thunder came away victorious in 2013, handing Loras a 76-66 home loss.

LORAS PICKED TO FINISH SECOND IN IOWA CONFERENCE COACHES POLL ...
The Duhawks were voted second, receiving two first place votes. Finishing just ahead of Loras (48) was Simpson College with 54 points. While Coe College rounded out the top three with 42 points, receiving one first place vote. Loras' roster is filled with talent, some of which is unproven with the loss of three key seniors. Simpson earns the first place slot for the second straight year after finishing 14-12 last season.

DUHAWKS LOSE LORAS' TOP SENIOR CLASS ...
Over the course of her career Katie Langmeier etched her name in Loras history as one of the best in program history. Fueling the Duhawks to their best season in over a decade, Langmeier was named to the D3Hoops All-West Region Second team after being named Iowa Conference Most Valuable Player and Co-Defensive Player of the Year. In addition to Langmeier, the Duhawks lose Lauren Byrne and Katie Wheeler. Byrne's leadership combined with her contributions on the floor (6.0 pts, 3.8 rebounds). In Wheeler, Loras loses leadership and grit. Together the three make up the winningest class in Loras Women's Basketball history, with 66 wins over their four-year careers.

ALL-CONFERENCE TRIO PRIMED FOR SEASON ...
Senior Victoria May returns for her senior season after posting career-highs across the board as a junior. As the team's most efficient shooter, boasting a team-best .539 field goal percentage.Junior Kaitlin Phillips was second to only Langmeier in points per game last season (12.2) while she led the Duhawks in free throws (72), three-pointers (34). Sophomore Kat Cabrera looks to build upon last year's breakout season. As a freshman Cabrera averaged 6.8 points and 3.0 rebounds. She led the team with 72 assists while also shooting a team-best 84.7% from the free throw line.

HEINZEN BEGINS EIGHTH SEASON WITH THE DUHAWKS ...
Justin Heinzen will embark on his eighth season as the head coach of the Duhawks after leading his team to a 19-9 record, the best under his tenure, in 2013-14. The stellar season by his squad earned Heinzen Iowa Conference Coach of the Year honors and moved him into the lead for wins in the program's history. He enters the season with a 112-76 record.  

NEW ADDITION TO THE COACHING STAFF ...
On June 2, Jamie Majerowicz was tabbed Heinzen's top assistant. A standout student-athlete and later coach at Winona State, Majerowicz comes to Loras with four years of coaching experience on top of a strong playing career. Her main focus will be working with the Duhawks posts to find a new solution down low after losing Langmeier to graduation. For Majerowicz, she's excited for the opportunity to work alongside Heinzen, who's proven to be effective in the Iowa Conference.