Box Score In a tight matchup that saw seven lead changes and 14 ties, the Wolf Pack took down the Lady Crusaders behind a 33-22 second half
NEW ORLEANS - In their final week of the 2017-18 regular season, the No. 22 Loyola University New Orleans women's basketball team hosted William Carey Thursday night in The Den, defeating them 63-54.
The visiting Lady Crusaders (7-14, 6-9) were first to strike tonight, sinking a jumper next to the hoop to take the lead. In one of seven lead changes, the Wolf Pack (21-5, 12-2) claimed their first lead after Zoie Miller sunk a three-pointer, before William Carey responded with a layup. It was back-and-forth basketball early on, with Di'Mond Jackson sinking a free throw to make it four all before a score from the visitors gave them the lead yet again 6-4.
Two free throws by Miller put the Pack up 10-9 with just over three minutes remaining in the quarter, before a three by Megan Worry extended their lead to four. Two quick buckets by William Carey tied the game for one of 14 times tonight, with the score sitting even at the end of the period 16-16.
After the two teams exchanged scores to open the second quarter, two free throws by Loyola followed by a steal from Jackson and score by Miller pushed the Pack out by four. Another layup by the Frisco, Texas native Miller gave the Wolf Pack a six point lead, however the Lady Crusaders responded, tying the game at 28. William Carey would score the final two points of the quarter, heading into the halftime break with a two point advantage, up 32-30.
To open up the second half of play, Miller found Kamille Cooper down low to tie the game back up before a jumper by William Carey gave the visitors back the lead. Later, Worry gave the Pack the lead once more, before yet another tie at 38 all, the last of the game.
A three by Worry followed by a steal and eventual score by Kaila Anthony put the Wolf Pack up five with just under three minutes to play in the third quarter. A deep ball by Miller followed by a visiting bucket brought the score to 48-45 at the end of the third quarter. Jackson hit a layup to open the fourth and gave Loyola a 50-45 advantage, before William Carey brought it within two.
After hitting one of two free throws, the visitors clawed back within one point, but the Wolf Pack would hold the Lady Crusaders off. A three-pointer by Paige Franckiwicz and two free throws by Miller put Loyola up 57-51. After a make from beyond the arc for William Carey, Worry responded with one of her own, setting the score at 60-54 with three minutes left on the clock.
Astime wound down, a layup by Anthony followed by a free throw for Miller put the Pack up 63-54, a score they would hold until the final buzzer for their 12th conference win of the year.
Miller led the Wolf Pack in scoring tonight, tallying 21 points while grabbing four rebounds and adding five assists. Now with 511 points on the season, her total currently sits as the ninth-most in program history. The senior guard also climbed the leaderboards for career assists and steals tonight, reaching eighth place on each list.
Scoring 13 points tonight while grabbing 10 rebounds, Worry registered her second double-double of the season while blocking two shots. With 28 blocks on the year, her total for the season are tied for the fourth most by a member of the Wolf Pack in school history.
Joining Miller and Worry in double-digit scoring, Jackson collected 11 points with eight rebounds and five assists. The Baton Rouge, La. native climbed two top-10 lists tonight, passing Dani Holland for the sixth-most assists in school history, while her 131 dimes on the year are the 10th-most in a single season.
Latia Pullum led the Lady Crusaders in scoring and rebounds this evening, collecting 10 points and grabbing eight boards.
Loyola will close out their regular season this Saturday, February, 24th, hosting Blue Mountain College for senior day in The Den at 2 p.m. This year's two seniors, Miller and Jackson, will be honored before the game.
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