Box Score Loyola's offense holds off the Lady Bleu Devils, shooting 53% from the field in the second half to win
NEW ORLEANS – After a close game through three quarters, the Loyola University New Orleans women's basketball team pulled away in the fourth quarter to take a 74-59 victory over No. 25 Dillard Saturday in The Den.
The Wolf Pack (6-4) jumped out to an early 9-0 lead, with leading scorer Kaila Anthony tallying seven of the first nine. The Pack forced the Lady Bleu Devils (8-4) to miss their first eight shots, with the visitors not scoring until the 4:15 mark of the first quarter. Dillard was held to single digits in the opening period as Loyola took a 13-8 lead.
Both teams remained in a defensive battle in the second quarter while the Lady Bleu Devils climbed back in the game, taking their first lead of the contest with a little over three minutes left in the half. With Loyola down a point after a pair of Dillard free throws, Anthony drove coast-to-coast for a layup as time expired, and the Pack took a 24-23 lead into the break.
An'Jolique Woodson opened the third quarter for Loyola with an offensive board and putback to make it a 26-23 game. After Dillard claimed the lead on a three, Anthony tied it back up at 28-all. The visitors would go out in front once more, with Presley Wascom putting the Wolf Pack back on top on one of her four threes of the day, notching the score at 34-33 with just under five minutes left in the third.
Later in the period, Megan Worry sunk a shot from the top of the arc to break yet another tie, with Wascom hitting from nearly the same spot moments later. As the quarter neared an end, Woodson converted a pair of free throws and layup to give the Pack a six-point advantage headed into the fourth quarter.
The Wolf Pack offense continued to roll, as Wascom opened up with yet another make from three-point range. As each team traded buckets in a competitive final period, Loyola would eventually climb away when Kamille Cooper and Anthony put the home team up 64-57.
With just under two minutes to play, the Pack would claim a double-digit lead 68-57, scoring a few last-minute buckets to hold the Lady Bleu Devils off by a final score of 74-59. Loyola will remain at home for their next game, hosting Faulkner in The Den next Friday, December 14th at 5:30 p.m.
Pack Facts
The Wolf Pack are now 10-4 against Dillard dating back to 2010.
The team was led in scoring by Kaila Anthony, who dropped 19 today while dishing out 6 assists.
The junior also tied her career-best for steals in a game with five.
Megan Worry registered her fifth double-double this season, scoring 12 points while grabbing 12 boards.
Freshman Tay Cannon nearly collected her first career double-double today after scoring 10 and grabbing a career-high eight rebounds.
You can keep up with the Pack this season by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
