Riding a five-game winning streak, the No. 13 Loyola University New Orleans Women's Basketball team entered The Den on Saturday to take on city rival Dillard University. The Wolf Pack were looking to avenge a 73-68 loss to the Lady Bleu Devils earlier this year at The Battlefield.
Despite starting the game up 16-0, Loyola would be unable to overcome 13% shooting from beyond the arc and the Wolf Pack fell to Dillard 71-69 in a thriller on Saturday afternoon.
The Wolf Pack were dominant in the early minutes of the game, jumping out to a 16-0 advantage at the 5:49 mark. The visitors quickly responded, stringing together eight-straight points to bring the score to 16-8 with just under four minutes to play in the first quarter. A field goal by Jr. F Meghan Temple (Houston, Texas/Klein) put the Wolf Pack up 10, before a 7-2 run by Dillard closed out the first quarter with the score at 20-15.
A deep triple by Shaelynn Moore brought the Lady Bleu Devils within two, 31-29, with 5:20 remaining in the first half. At 4:36, So. G Zoie Miller(Frisco, Texas/Lone Star High School) sank two free throws to cap off a 5-0 run to put the home team up 36-29. The Wolf Pack held the slim advantage for the remainder of the first half to go into the locker rooms up 42-35.
Both teams were deadly from the free throw line in the first half, with Dillard shooting 9-of-11 and Loyola shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the charity stripe.
Down 50-40 in the third, the Lady Bleu Devils scored six-straight points to cut the deficit to 50-46 with 3:27 remaining. Dillard used four late points by Alena Evans to bring the score to 53-50, before a field goal by Keona Favis with five second remaining brought the score to 53-52 heading into the final quarter of action.
A three pointer by Alyssa Washington at the 8:29 mark gave the Lady Bleu Devils their first lead of the game at 57-56. Both teams would exchange the lead for the next couple of minutes, before a triple by Rashida Ademosu put the visitors up 67-65 with 4:18 to play in regulation. Dillard held the lead for the remainder of the fourth, forcing the Wolf Pack to foul in the final minutes. Down 71-66, a turnaround jumper by R-So. Di'Mond Jackson (Baton Rouge, La./University of Arkansas Little Rock)brought the final score to 71-69 to give Dillard the series sweep.
Sr. G Briana Oglesby (Baton Rouge, La./University Laboratory School) led the Wolf Pack with 13 points in 33 minutes. Jackson added 12 points off the bench, while Sr. F Adrianne Sloboh (Simi Valley, Calif./Royal High School) chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds.Temple recorded 10 points and eight boards in the loss.
Evans led the Lady Bleu Devils with a game-high 25 points and nine rebounds. Washington and Favis each had 16 points, with Washington adding six rebounds on Saturday.
Loyola hits the road on Wednesday, Dec. 9, to take on DI McNeese State University in an exhibition game at 7:00 p.m.
