Box Score The Wolf Pack out-shoot the Saints from the floor and sink 16 three-pointers but are unable to come out on top
BILLINGS, Mont. – In a rematch of last year's opening round, another great season for the No. 22 Loyola University New Orleans women's basketball team came to a close on Thursday, as they fell 89-84 in a close first-round matchup against No. 12 Our Lady of the Lake at the 2019 NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship.
While the Saints (26-6) got on the board first with a quick two points, Kaila Anthony responded to put the Wolf Pack (26-7) in front 3-2 early in what became a tight first quarter. The opening period featured five ties and eight lead changes, though Our Lady of the Lake pulled ahead by five at the end of the quarter to lead 20-15 heading into the second.
Loyola cut the lead down to two points at 25-23 with seven minutes left until halftime, but the Saints pulled away again after going on a 15-4 run, extending their lead to the largest of the game at 40-27. The Pack were able to cut the deficit to single digits, building momentum for the second half as they trailed 42-34 at the break.
The Wolf Pack stormed back in the third quarter, led by a combined six makes from beyond the arc from Anthony and Megan Worry, as they outscored the Saints 27-19 in the period to tie the game at 61 heading into the final frame.
However, Our Lady of the Lake pushed back ahead by double digits halfway through the fourth quarter, leading 82-72 with 3:36 to play. Despite a comeback effort from the Wolf Pack that made it a one-possession game with five seconds left, the Saints would convert free throws down the stretch to seal the 89-84 victory, ending Loyola's tournament run.
Pack Facts
The Wolf Pack shot 50% from three-point range today while connecting on 16 makes from deep, both season bests.
The last time the Wolf Pack connected on that many threes was November 29, 2014 in a 113-51 win over Brenau.
Kaila Anthony finished with a game-high 24 points, sinking five shots from beyond the arc, while adding five rebounds, three assists and a steal.
The junior surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career in the second quarter of today's game.
Megan Worry added 22 points with a season-best six three-pointers, grabbing five boards, dishing out five assists and blocking two shots as well.
The senior ends her career as the program's all-time leading shot blocker and seventh in career rebounds, after breaking the record for blocks in a season and finishing with the fourth-most rebounds in a single year in her senior campaign.
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.
