Box Score Temple breaks single-game program record with eight blocks in the victory.
Looking to bounce back after a 58-62 defeat at Paul Quinn College on Saturday, the No. 24 Loyola University New Orleans women's basketball team made the short trip across town to take on (RV) Xavier University inside the Convocation Center on Tuesday evening.
Powered by a historic evening by Meghan Temple (SR/Houston, Texas), the Wolf Pack dominated the Gold Nuggets 81-53 on the road. The 28-point victory is the largest for Loyola (3-1) in 38 previous meetings against Xavier (3-2).
Back-to-back baskets by Temple and Kylah Jones (SR/Houston, Texas) gave Loyola the 4-0 advantage to start the game. The Gold Nuggets managed to knot the game at 9-9 before three-straight points by Jackie Anderson (SR/San Antonio, Texas) put the visitors up 12-9 with 2:20 to play in the opening frame. With the score locked at 12-12, Di'Mond Jackson (JR/Baton Rouge, La.) sank two free throws to give the Wolf Pack the slim 13-12 advantage to end the first quarter.
Xavier started the second quarter with back-to-back baskets to grab the 16-14 lead with just over nine minutes remaining before halftime. Loyola quickly answered with a 9-0 spurt - capped off by a layup from Temple – to put the visitors up 23 -16 with just over five minutes to play in the opening half. The Wolf Pack was able to maintain a small cushion over the next five minutes to take 31-24 lead into the locker rooms.
Up seven to start the second half, the Wolf Pack found another gear in the third quarter. Loyola held the Gold Nuggets to just 3-14 shooting from the floor while forcing seven turnovers to win the quarter 28-6 and take the 59-30 advantage into the final quarter of action.
With a near-30 point cushion, Loyola was able to play its reserves for a majority of the fourth. Xavier won the fourth 23-22 but it would not be enough as the Wolf Pack cruised to the 81-53 victory in the crosstown rivalry.
For the game, Loyola shot 47.3% (26-of-55) from the floor and 42.9% (9-of-21) from beyond the arc.
Temple logged a double-double (11 points/12 rebounds) with eight blocks in the victory. Her eight blocks (six in the first half) breaks the all-time single-game program record (6) for rejections in game – surpassing the previous record set by Shanna McDonough (1995-96) against Spring Hill College.
Zoie Miller (JR/Frisco, Texas) led Loyola with 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor to go along with six rebounds and four assists in 26 minutes played. Jackson added 15 points and seven boards off the bench while Jones chipped in 10 points, five rebounds and four assists in the victory.
For Xavier, Ireyon Keith paced the offense with 10 points off the bench.
The Wolf Pack returns to action on Thursday, Nov. 17, at home against SUNO. Opening tip from First NBC Court is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
