Looking to snap a two-game losing streak, the (RV) Loyola University New Orleans Women's Basketball team welcomed Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) opponent the University of Mobile for a game at The Den on Saturday afternoon.
Despite Mobile's backcourt combining for 50 points, Loyola held on at home to earn the slim 72-68 victory.
With the win, Loyola improves to 16-5 on the year and 11-2 in the SSAC. Conversely, the Rams drop to 11-12 overall and 6-7 in conference play following the loss.
Sr. G Briana Oglesby (Baton Rouge, La./University Laboratory School) led the Wolf Pack with 16 points on 3-of-5 shooting including a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw stripe. Fr. G Megan Worry (Houston, Texas/Lumberton) grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, while So. GZoie Miller (Frisco, Texas/Lone Star High School) dished four assists on Saturday.
Mobile's Starla Daggan led all scorers with 29 points, while Kalie Koenigchipped in 21 points in the loss.
Loyola shot 22-of-51 (43%) from the floor and 5-of-13 (38%) from beyond the arc. The Wolf Pack held the 26-12 advantage in bench scoring, while the Rams won the turnover battle 21-14.
Down 9-6 to start the game, the Wolf Pack orchestrated a 10-0 run to take the 16-9 advantage with under two minutes to play in the first quarter. Loyola capped off the first quarter with a triple by Jr. G Jackie Anderson (San Antonio, Texas/Antonian) to take the 22-12 lead after the first 10 minutes of action.
Mobile started the second quarter by scoring four-unanswered point to cut the deficit to 22-16 with 7:50 remaining. The Rams hung around for the remainder of the second quarter and the teams headed in to the locker rooms with Loyola holding the slim 32-29 advantage.
Up 67-62 with just 24 seconds remaining, the Wolf Pack looked to be in a great position to get the victory. Koenig hit a long triple for the Rams to cut the deficit to 68-65 and followed that up by hitting another long gun with 13 seconds to go to bring the Rams within one, 69-68, with just 12 seconds to play.
Oglesby got fouled and sank both from the line to bring the score to 71-68. Koenig missed a step-back three to tie it and Mobile was forced to foul with two seconds remaining. After two missed free throws, R-So. G Di'Mond Jackson (Baton Rouge, La./University Arkansas Little Rock)grabbed the offensive board and got fouled with just .9 seconds remaining.Jackson dropped in one from the line to seal the hard-fought 72-68 win for the Wolf Pack.
Loyola returns to The Den on Thursday, Feb. 11, to take on No. 25 Martin Methodist at 5:30 p.m. The Wolf Pack will look to avenge a 68-59 loss to the RedHawks earlier this season.
