Box Score After a close loss Thursday, Loyola had its best shooting performance of the season in a 42-point win over Middle Georgia State
COCHRAN, Ga. – The 17th-ranked Loyola Wolf Pack answered the bell Saturday after a close loss Thursday night. The Wolf Pack earned their third conference win of the season against Middle Georgia State on the road, cruising to a 92-50 win over the Knights.
With the win, the Wolf Pack is now 3-1 in Southern States Athletic Conference play and 9-3 overall.
Loyola opened the game with 24 first-quarter points through the first 10 minutes of play. Kaila Anthony poured in eight points and four assists, including two 3-pointers in the final three minutes to help end the first with a 24-12 lead. MGA led 6-0 early, however, once Loyola grabbed the 10-8 advantage, the Knights never saw the lead again.
The Wolf Pack improved their point total in each of the next two quarters, too. Loyola scored 25 points in the second to take a 49-30 lead into the break, then added 27 points to extend the score to 76-42 after three quarters. By halftime, Anthony already dished seven assists, which was a season-high, to go along with her 16 first-half points, while Paige Franckiewicz was 3-5 from the 3-point line.
Loyola added 16 more points in the fourth quarter with the game already out of reach.
Loyola's defense was strong as well. Middle Georgia State didn't score more than 18 points in any quarter, and it was held to 12 points or less in three of those quarters. The Knight's shot 16-for-72 from the floor and 4-for-31 from the 3-point line, and Loyola poured in 14 3s off 28 attempts while shooting 36-of-61 from the floor. The Wolf Pack's 59 percent field-goal shooting and 50 percent 3-point shooting are the best marks of the season.
Loyola had 25 points of turnovers compared to MGA's five, and the Wolf Pack had 42 points in the paint to the Knight's 16.
The Wolf Pack will play two more road games before returning to The Den. They'll travel to Stillman Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. contest, then Loyola will play Mobile Saturday, Jan. 11, at noon.
Pack Facts
Paige Franckiewicz's 19 points is a season-high, as the senior's career-high 32 points came during his freshman season. Her seven field goals made is a season-high as well.
Presley Wascom recorded a game-high 20 points Saturday, earning a new season-high for the second straight game. Her career-high 22 points was recorded last season. Like Franckiewicz, the junior's seven made field goals is also a season-high.
Kaila Anthony matched her career-high in assists, which was set last season, with 10 against Middle Georgia State Saturday. She also had her first double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 assists.
In 10 matchups all-time with Middle Georgia State, Loyola is 10-0.
The 42-point win over MGA was the largest win margin in a Southern State Athletic Conference game since Feb. 24, 2018, against Blue Mountain College. The Wolf Pack won that game by 46 points, 85-39.
Loyola had its best shooting performance of the season Saturday, setting new season-bests in 3-point shooting 14-for-28, 50 percent) and field goal shooting (36-for-61, 59 percent).
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.
