Looking to avenge a loss earlier this season on the road, the No. 25 Loyola University New Orleans Women's Basketball team welcomed (RV) Martin Methodist to The Den for a key SSAC matchup on Thursday evening.
Propelled by Jr. G Kylah Jones' (Houston, Texas/Westfield) career-high 19 points, the Wolf Pack managed to outlast the RedHawks 63-50 at home.
With the win, Loyola improves to 17-5 overall and 12-2 in the SSAC to remain in second place. Conversely, Martin Methodist falls to 18-8 on the year and 9-5 in conference play following the loss.
Jones finished with 19 points (including 10 straight in the fourth quarter) to lead the Wolf Pack. Jr. F Meghan Temple (Houston, Texas/Klein)added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while So. G Zoie Miller(Frisco, Texas/Lone Star High School) chipped in seven points, three assists and two boards in the victory.
For the RedHawks, Janasia Williams racked up 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the floor. Kyoko Wade added six points and a game-high 12 rebounds on Thursday.
Loyola shot 24-of-53 (45%) from the floor and an impressive 8-of-18 (44%) from beyond the arc. The Wolf Pack managed to grab nine steals and force 17 turnovers in the win.
A free throw by Temple put the Wolf Pack up 1-0 to start the game and give Loyola its only lead of the first quarter. With the score knotted at 8-8, the visitors strung together nine-straight points to take the 17-8 advantage with under a minute to play in the first quarter. Miller ended the quarter with a layup to cut the Loyola deficit to 17-13 after the first 10 minutes of action.
Trailing 26-17 midway through the second quarter, the Wolf Pack orchestrated a 10-0 run to grab their first lead of the quarter at 27-26 with 1:40 to play before halftime. Down two, Jones connected on a layup to knot the score once again, 29-29, with under a minute to play. Loyola had two chances to retake the lead with just seconds on the clock but missed both opportunities and the scoreboard read 29-29 heading in to halftime. When it was all said and down, the Wolf Pack closed the second quarter on an impressive 12-3 run to knot the score.
The third quarter saw both teams exchange the lead and when the buzzer sounded Martin Methodist held the slim 44-41 advantage.
Miller connected on a layup and converted on an and-1 to give the home team the lead back at 49-48 with 5:19 to play. With the Wolf Pack up one,Jones flipped a switch and took the team on her back; accounting for 10 points in less than two minutes to give the Wolf Pack their largest advantage of the game, 58-48, with just over two minutes to play. Sparked by Jones' offense, the Wolf Pack were able to hold off the RedHawks and claim the 63-50 victory at home.
Loyola hits the court again on Saturday, Feb. 13, to take on No. 4 Bethel University at 2:00 p.m. This is a huge game on many levels for the Wolf Pack as the matchup was recently tabbed the NAIA Network Division I Game of the Week. Saturday will also be a special Coaches Vs. Cancer game and Loyola Head Coach Kellie Kennedy will be recognized at halftime for being the all-time winningest coach is Wolf Pack women's basketball history.
