Box Score In their annual School Day game, the 22nd-ranked Loyola Wolf Pack took down crosstown rival Dillard Tuesday afternoon
NEW ORLEANS – In front of a crowd made up of a couple hundred grade-school students from Holy Name of Jesus School, the No. 22 Loyola Wolf Pack kept their winning streak alive by defeating Dillard 86-66 Tuesday afternoon during the program's annual School Day game.
The win, which was the team's sixth straight, moves the Pack to 6-1 overall, and they'll put their 2-0 Southern States Athletic Conference record on the line Thursday when they travel to William Carey for a 5:30 p.m. tip.
Loyola never trailed in this one, but Dillard kept the game close early, with the first few minutes featuring three ties at 2-2, 4-4, and 6-6. After that, however, the jump shots started falling for the Wolf Pack as the home team opened up a big lead in the first quarter. Taylor Thomas had nine points in the quarter as the Pack led 25-13 after one.
Thomas hit a jumper and then found Jazmene McMillan for a 3-pointer as Loyola extended its lead to start the second period. Tay Cannon was the leading scorer in the quarter with seven points, and her free throw at the 3:19 mark would give the Wolf Pack their largest lead of the half at 43-20. The home squad would lead 45-27 going into halftime.
After the break, Dillard cut Loyola's lead to 16 points, but the Pack quickly regained the points on a triple from Sydni Tangle. McMillan was aggressive on offense, leading the team with seven points in the frame after earning two trips to the free throw line. Loyola held a 19-point advantage, 67-46, heading into the final quarter.
Jada Farrell stepped up in the fourth, putting up seven points with four rebounds after playing almost the entire period. Loyola outscored Dillard by one point in the quarter, wrapping up the 20-point victory.
Pack Facts
On Tuesday, 11 players saw the court for the Wolf Pack, and all of them scored.
Loyola made 33 of 59 shots, recording the team's highest field goal percentage (55.9%) since Feb. 12, when the team shot 56.9 percent from the field, also against Dillard.
Taylor Thomas led the team in four categories against the Lady Bleu Devils. Thomas put up 14 points along with season highs of eight assists, six rebounds, and three steals.
Jazmene McMillan also had 14 points and four rebounds. Her five free throws led the team.
Two more players scored in double figures: Kennedy Hansberry with 12 and Tay Cannon with 11.
Hansberry also had four assists, tying a season high, with four rebounds and two steals.
Jada Farrell scored seven points, the second-highest output of her Loyola career. All seven points came in the fourth quarter.
Sydni Tangle scored nine points with a season-best six assists and two steals.
Overall, Loyola forced 22 Dillard turnovers, stealing the ball a season-high 12 times. Loyola scored 33 points off of those turnovers.
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.
