Box Score A second-half comeback from the Pack forces extra periods, but Loyola falls 106-100
NEW ORLEANS – In a three-hour and five-overtime game, the 25th-ranked Loyola University New Orleans women's basketball team fell 106-100 to No. 13 Bethel Thursday night in The Den.
The visitors were first on the scoreboard with a pair of buckets before Kaila Anthony got the Wolf Pack (21-6, 15-3 SSAC) on with a three pointer. Megan Worry connected on a make from deep moments later to give Loyola six, but the Wildcats (24-3, 16-1 SSAC) had the hot hand. Trailing by 10, Kennedy Hansberry drove to the rim and dropped a layup in as she was fouled, converting the and-one play to make it a 16-9 game. The Wolf Pack would trail at the end of the first quarter, down 23-12 after the first 10 minutes of play.
After Bethel added three points out of the break, Tay Cannon weaved through the defense and dropped a layup, with An'Jolique Woodson adding four over the next couple of minutes. A layup from Worry made it an 11-point game with four minutes left, before the visitors eventually went out in front by 16. The Pack inched back as the half ended however, setting the score at 41-29 in favor of Bethel at halftime.
To open up the third, Kamille Cooper connected on a jump shot before Paige Franckiewicz drilled a deep three-pointer. After Worry converted an and-one score, Hansberry picked a steal and went the distance for a score to make it 47-41 in favor of Bethel with just over six minutes remaining. A jumper from Presley Wascom with two and a half minutes left got Loyola within two, with Franckiewicz tying it at 50-all moments later. After outscoring Bethel 26-12 and outshooting them 60% to 12% from the floor in the period, The Pack took a 55-53 lead into the fourth.
A back-and-forth final quarter saw four ties, including a 73-all score with two minutes left in regulation. As neither team was able to add any points before the clock hit zero, the two ranked opponents got ready for overtime.
The first extra five minutes of play wasn't enough, with each team scoring two points to force a second overtime period, where Bethel began with a quick two points. A pair of free throws from Woodson set the score even yet again, before the Wolf Pack hit two more from the charity stripe with 1.8 seconds left to tie it at 80. The two teams would head to an additional five-minute period, their third overtime, where Bethel took a three-point lead with just under two minutes left. A big three from Worry tied the score at 86, as neither team was able to add any more, forcing yet another extra period.
With three minutes left in the fourth OT, Worry cut into a five-point deficit with another make from deep, before Wascom drew an offensive foul on the other end of the floor. With just 2.3 seconds left on the clock, Anthony sunk a pair of free throws to tie the game yet again and send the game to an additional five minute period.
Two early mid-range makes from Franckiewicz in the fifth overtime weren't enough to counter Bethel, as they would go out in front by five with 40 seconds left. Loyola was unable to climb back in to it, falling in a marathon game 106-100.
The Wolf Pack will host their final home game this Saturday, February 16 at 2 p.m. for Senior Day against Blue Mountain College.
Pack Facts
Megan Worry scored 25 points tonight while grabbing 13 rebounds for her fourth double-double in the past six games and 13th on the season, which leads the conference.
Worry added three blocks and three steals on the defensive end, and ranks in the top-10 in the NAIA with 55 blocks on the year.
Leading the team in scoring yet again tonight, Kaila Anthony dropped 27 points, her most since the season opener.
Anthony got it done on the defensive end as well, blocking three shots and collecting three steals.
The junior averages 2.64 steals per contest which leads the conference.
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.
