Box Score The 16th-ranked Loyola Wolf Pack finished their home schedule with a 45-point win over Middle Georgia State Saturday in The Den
NEW ORLEANS – The No. 16 Loyola Wolf Pack sent off their three seniors in style Saturday in The Den. Loyola made quick work of Middle Georgia State, defeating the visiting Knights 102-57.
With two games to play, Loyola improves its record to 19-5 overall and 12-3 in Southern States Athletic Conference play. The Wolf Pack remains in second place in the conference standings, and 1.5 games behind first-place Bethel.
The game started with two technical free throws by Paige Franckiewicz due to a pregame error by Middle Georgia State, and the Wolf Pack opened the game with a 10-0 run through the first three minutes. Franckiewicz nailed a long-range shot during that stretch to give her five quick points. The Knights cut the lead to five twice in the frame, but Loyola, again, pushed the lead out to double-digits.
Eight different Loyola players scored in the quarter, giving the Wolf Pack a 28-11 lead after the first.
Shawna Torregano started the second with a 3-pointer that pushed the lead to 31-13 before the Knights cut the lead to 11 halfway through the quarter. Baskets by Kaila Anthony and Franckiewicz, plus a free throw by Breyah Richardson, allowed Loyola to use an 8-0 run in the final minutes to extend the advantage to 41-25.
Middle Georgia State scored the final points of the first half to make it a 44-25 Loyola lead at the break.
The Wolf Pack enjoyed a 10-3 run to open the second half, giving them a 53-31 lead with six minutes left in the quarter. Franckiewicz hit two 3s in the quarter, and Kate Petrovic and Taylor Thomas finished off the frame with three straight made baskets to head to the fourth quarter up 71-39.
Loyola continued its pace offensively with a game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter on its way to the win.
The Wolf Pack's defense was solid throughout the entire game, too. They held the Knights to 8-of-30 shooting in the first half to race to the early lead. MGA finished the game by going 17-for-49 (35 percent) from the floor, while Loyola was 39-for-79 (49 percent).
Loyola will hit the road for its final two regular-season games next week. The Wolf Pack will first travel to No. 7 Bethel for a 5:30 p.m. game, then they'll take on Blue Mountain College next Saturday at noon.
Pack Facts
Loyola had 18 steals as a team Thursday, which is the most the team has tallied in a game this season.
Breyah Richardson recorded three steals for the sixth time this season. Tay Cannon and Kaila Anthony also had three steals each.
Kennedy Hansberry had a career-high five steals Thursday against Middle Georgia State.
Paige Franckiewicz scored a season-high 26 points in her final game in The Den.
Anthony's six assists were the second-most the senior has had all season, and she's had at least five in a game five times this season.
Loyola is 11-0 against Middle Georgia State going back to 2014.
It was Loyola's first time scoring 100 points since Jan. 20, 2018, and it was most points the Wolf Pack has scored since they put up 106 on Jan. 24, 2015.
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.
