101-year-old Sister Jean visits Hinkle Fieldhouse for Loyola Chicago victory
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A sister sighting was reported for Loyola Chicago’s first-round game against Georgia Tech.
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the Ramblers’ 101-year-old team chaplain, was rolled into Hinkle Fieldhouse in her wheelchair. She was bundled up in a yellow-and-red scarf and wearing a mask that read “Loyola” shortly before the opening tip Friday night.
Sister Jean became an icon during Loyola’s Final Four run in 2018, but she hadn’t attended a game in person since the pandemic began. She recently was vaccinated but has continued to keep her distance from the team, delivering the pregame prayer virtually all season and again prior to the Ramblers’ game against the Yellow Jackets.
In the game, Lucas Williamson scored 21 points in a dynamic performance by the defensive whiz, All-America forward Cameron Krutwig added 10, and eighth-seeded Loyola Chicago beat No. 9 seed Georgia Tech 71-60 to mark a triumphant return to the NCAA Tournament.
Loyola advanced to play top-seeded Illinois on Sunday.
Jordan Usher scored 15 points, Michael Devoe had 14 and Jose Alvarado 13 for the Yellow Jackets, who were forced to play without ACC player of the year Moses Wright after the big man tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week.