(McKenzie, Tenn.) The Loyola University New Orleans women's basketball team dropped a close contest to #16 Bethel University, falling 78-74 in the Crisp Arena.
Freshman Kylah Jones recorded two career-highs with 19 points and five rebounds to lead the Wolf Pack (14-8, 8-4 SSAC) in both categories. She converted seven for 12 from the field, two for three from three-point range and sunk three out of five foul shots. Senior Jasmine Brewer and junior Janeicia Neely netted 13 points each and collected four boards apiece. Juniors Megan Whittaker and Rebekah Greer joined them in double figures, combining for 22 points.
Bethel (16-6, 9-3 SSAC) entered the second half with a comfortable 48-31 lead. Jones struck first in the second half with a field goal followed by a Bethel three from senior Katie VanDyke. Junior Callie McNally tossed up a putback for two points on the next Loyola possession and the Pack offense exploded, stringing together a 17-2 run and cutting the deficit to two.
Loyola stuck close to Bethel for the majority of the second half, allowing the Wildcats to regain a double-digit lead at 74-63 off a junior Porshia Blue long range shot with less than five minutes remaining. Sophomore Shayne Charles nailed a three-pointer on the following Wolf Pack play and brought new life to the Loyola offense. The Pack scored eight in a row to whittle the Bethel lead down to three with just over a minute to go.
Foster put the Wildcats back up by five with a two-point shot, but Brewer posted two points in the paint and Neely sunk one of two free throws with seconds on the clock to put the Pack within two. Drake collected the defensive rebound off the Neely miss and Loyola was forced to foul, sending Drake to the line to secure the four-point win.
Foster paced the Wildcats with 25 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Drake earned a double-double, tallying 20 points and 10 boards.
The Wildcats opened the contest with an eight-point run, but Whittaker slowed down the surging Bethel offense with a three-point shot to put Loyola on the board at the 16:34 mark. Following a jumper from Jones to pull the Pack within six at 7-13, the Wildcats responded with a six-point burst to pull ahead by 12.
Loyola turned in a streak of their own starting with a long distance shot for three from Greer to make it a 20-31 contest with just over five minutes to play in the first. Greer's bucket from behind the arc lifted Loyola from three-point range as Whittaker nailed a three to follow and reduced the Bethel lead to seven, 27-34. The home team would not waiver, however, and responded with six consecutive points capped by a junior Tayla Foster field goal off a Loyola turnover to boost the Bethel advantage to 13.
Bethel junior Kenyatta Drake completed a three-point play at the foul line to earn Bethel their largest edge of the first half and make it a 48-29 game with 1:05 remaining in the first. Jones drove to the hoop for two to close the half with Loyola trailing by 17.
The Wolf Pack returns to their home court on Thursday, Feb. 6 to host Belhaven University in a 5:30 p.m. tilt.
