Box Score The 22nd-ranked Wolf Pack women's basketball climbed out of an early 20-point deficit to defeat crosstown rival Xavier
NEW ORLEANS – Down 20 points in the first half in their matchup with crosstown rival Xavier, the No. 22 Loyola Wolf Pack women's basketball team never gave up Tuesday night at the Convocation Center. Playing in New Orleans for the first time this season, the Wolf Pack battled back to defeat the Gold Nuggets 68-66 to improve their overall record to 4-1.
Loyola is now set to host a pair of games at Tulane's Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse Saturday and next Tuesday, first taking on Louisiana Christian University at 2 p.m. on Saturday then Dillard at noon the following Tuesday.
Loyola began the game slowly, falling behind 24-9 after 10 minutes of play. Tay Cannon, though, turned a great defensive play into a score in the first quarter, blocking a Xavier shot at the 3-point line then quickly scoring to keep the Wolf Pack in the game.
In the second quarter, the Gold Nuggets extended their lead over the Pack to 20, 31-11, with seven minutes until halftime, but Loyola finally got things going after that. It scored the next 16 points to cut the deficit to four, 31-27, with 40 seconds left, and Sydni Tangle led the way with six of those points. The junior hit two 3-pointers during that run, as well as another 3 from Taylor Thomas and four points by Cannon to get the Pack back in the game. Xavier scored the final bucket of the first half to take a 33-27 lead at the break.
Thomas got the scoring going in the third quarter with another triple, then Sandra Cannady tied the game at 33-all for the first time since it was scoreless less than three minutes into the frame. Jazmene McMillan gave the Pack their first lead of the contest, 35-33, moments later before back-and-forth play ended the quarter with Loyola leading 50-48. The Wolf Pack and Gold Nuggets traded the advantage three times in the final five minutes of the third, but six points by McMillian during that stretch helped Loyola's cause.
Xavier took an early 54-52 lead four minutes into the final quarter, but two scores by Cannady and Cannon, and a 3-pointer from Tangle changed the lead in Loyola's favor once again, 59-57, at the 4:43 mark. Xavier jumped back up and held a 66-63 lead with 1:10 to play, and McMillian cut the score to one with a driving lay-up. The Pack forced a missed shot on the defensive end of the floor, then Thomas found a wide-open Cannady under the basket to give Loyola a 67-66 advantage with 17 seconds left. Xavier turned the ball over and missed a last-second 3-pointer as time expired.
Pack Facts
Tay Cannon led the team in scoring, 17 points while grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds. She was also stellar on the defensive end, grabbing three steals and blocking three shots.
This was the second double-double of Cannon's career. Her first was an 18-point, 10- rebound game on Jan. 9, 2020 against Stillman.
Sydni Tangle hit a new season-high with 11 points scored. All three of her made shots came from beyond the arc.
Sandra Cannady scored 12 points, second on the team, including the go-ahead basket in the final seconds. She also had a team-high four assists and was one rebound away from a double-double with nine boards.
For the second straight game, five Wolf Pack players scored in double figures. Taylor Thomas and Jazmene McMillan each put up 10 points on Tuesday.
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.
