Less than three hours before the Loyola women’s basketball team was supposed to tip off play at the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) women’s basketball tournament, the league announced it was canceling the event and suspending all spring sporting events through March 30.
The tournament — better known as Hoops in the Heartland — was scheduled to take place in Moline, Illinois March 12-15, but was canceled out of precaution for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by coronavirus. Loyola was set to face Indiana State University in the play-in game Thursday night.
The suspension of MVC spring sporting events through March 30 affects the Loyola softball, golf and track and field teams.