Box Score Jackson records her seventh double-double of the season while Miller leads the team with 22 points
NEW ORLEANS - In their regular season finale, the No. 22 Loyola University New Orleans women's basketball team defeated Blue Mountain College Saturday afternoon 85-39 in The Den.
Starting her senior day off right, Zoie Miller got the Pack (22-5, 13-2) rolling today with a corner three. The visiting Toppers (6-18, 3-15) drew the game even with a three of their own from the left wing, before Kaila Anthony drove for a layup, after earning her fifth start on the season. The second senior honored on the day, Di'Mond Jackson drove to the hoop and was fouled, hitting both free throws, with Blue Mountain sinking a quick three to bring the game within one.
A layup by Miller, followed by two offensive rebounds and an ensuing layup from Jackson, gave the Pack an 11-6 advantage. The visitors would not go away quietly to begin the game however, sinking a three to bring it back within two points. Kamille Cooper was sent to the line after getting fouled on a drive to the hoop and hit both free throws, before a layup by Megan Worry after Anthony stole the ball and found her across court for the quick score. The two teams continued to trade scores in the closing minutes of the first quarter, with Miller sinking a free throw to bring the score to 21-16.
The Toppers were first to strike in the second quarter, before Miller found Jackson wide open on a run toward the hoop. While Blue Mountain would respond, the Pack followed suit, as Worry bounced a pass into An'Jolique Woodson for the score before Worry hit one of her own. With just under five minutes left in the half, Woodson pushed the Wolf Pack lead out to 11 before a steal and eventual score by Miller made it 33-19.
Two consecutive scores by Blue Mountain made it a 10-point lead for Loyola, before the senior duo of Jackson and Miller ran down the court for the score, making it 35-23 at the half.
Miller found Worry for a layup to begin the third quarter, with Cooper grabbing an offensive rebound on the next possession and scoring to make it 39-23. Two free throws and a Toppers turnover and score for Loyola gave the Pack a 20-point advantage. Following Paige Franckiewicz's three pointer, Jackson connected on two-straight layups, giving her a double-double in the third quarter.
After a rebound by Jackson, one of 16 on the evening, she found Breyah Richardson for a quick score to begin the fourth quarter. Two more scores for the Pack and a deep three at the top of the arc by Worry gave Loyola a 40-point lead. With three minutes remaining, the two seniors, Jackson and Miller, left the court for their final time as the Wolf Pack held on for the 85-39 final, giving them 22 wins for the regular season.
Miller finished with a game-high 22 points today, moving her season total to 533, now the eighth-most in a single season in program history. Registering two steals on the day, the Frisco, Texas native now has 181 in her career, moving her into seventh place for most by a member of the Pack.
For the seventh time this season, Jackson recorded a double-double, this time with a season-best 16 rebounds to go with her 12 points and four assists. She now has 135 assists on the year which ranks as the seventh-most, topping her career-high of 133 from last year.
Up next for the Pack will be the Southern States Athletic Conference Championships in Montgomery, Ala., which will begin next Wednesday, February 28th. The Pack will be the number two seed in the bracket, and face off yet again with Blue Mountain on March 1st at 12:30 p.m.
You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
