Box Score The 23rd-ranked Wolf Pack women's basketball team had a 16-game Southern States Athletic Conference win streak snapped Thursday night
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Loyola University New Orleans women's basketball team dropped its first conference game in nearly a year Thursday night, as the William Carey Crusaders defeated the Wolf Pack in overtime, 92-84. The loss also snapped a six-game winning streak for Loyola, which is now 6-2 overall and 2-1 in Southern States Athletic Conference play.
Including Loyola's run in the conference tournament last season, Thursday was the program's first SSAC loss since Jan. 19, a string of 16 straight wins for the Wolf Pack. The team will now prepare for its third exhibition matchup with an NCAA Division I team this season, traveling to Lamar University Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest.
Things started slow for the Wolf Pack but Taylor Thomas got the first points for the team with a 3-pointer three minutes into the contest. William Carey, however, quickly took a 15-4 over the next few minutes of the first quarter. Consecutive scores by Sandra Cannady and Kennedy Hansberry narrowed the gap to 15-8, then a lay-up by Hansberry as time expired made it a 20-12 Crusaders lead after the first 10 minutes.
The second quarter was more evenly played, as William Carey took a 31-22 lead into the break. The Wolf Pack got to as close as six, 22-16, with eight minutes until halftime thanks to a 3 from Hansberry and a free throw by Tay Cannon, while WCU built a lead as large as 14, 31-17, at the 3:25 mark. A bucket by Cannady and a 3-pointer from Kate Petrovic in the final minutes brought the Pack a little closer.
The third quarter was back-and-forth as well, with the Wolf Pack staying within striking distance by ending the frame down by eight, 54-46. Cannady and Cannon combined for 15 points in the quarter, as the Crusaders never could pull away.
After William Carey pushed its lead to 14 halfway through the fourth quarter, Loyola began to make its run. Cannady and Cannon, again, made clutch shots for Loyola to cut the score to 64-57, with 4:36 to go, but the Crusaders held a 10-point with two minutes on the clock. That's when the Wolf Pack exploded with eight points in less than a minute, using 3-pointers from Hansberry and Thomas and free throws by Cannady to get within a possession of WCU. Down 76-73 with 31 seconds left, Thomas sank a 3 to help bring the game to overtime.
In the extra period, though, William Carey outscored Loyola 16-8 to earn the win.
Pack Facts
Loyola had won the previous 21 matchups against William Carey. Despite the loss, Wolf Pack still owns a 32-5 record against the Crusaders dating back to the 2005 season.
Thursday's game was the third this season in which Loyola grabbed double-digit steals. The Pack grabbed 12 steals for the second game in a row.
Sandra Cannady finished with 19 points, tying a season-high. Cannady also grabbed 12 boards, collecting her third double-double of the season and her seventh with the Wolf Pack.
Four players scored in double figures, with Tay Cannon leading the way at 20 points. Kennedy Hansberry also scored 19, while Taylor Thomas had 13.
As a team, Loyola knocked down eight 3-pointers, the highest total of this season. Hansberry and Thomas each hit three triples, with both of those numbers being season highs.
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