Box Score Saturday's championship gave the Wolf Pack their 20th win of the season, clinching the eighth-straight season in which Loyola has won at least 20 games
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – For the fifth time since 2015, the Loyola University New Orleans women's basketball team was crowned Southern States Athletic Conference champion, as the Wolf Pack defeated Middle Georgia 66-48 Saturday.
Only suffering one conference loss in the regular season, Loyola (20-1) continued its dominance at the SSAC Women's Basketball Championship, winning each game by double digits. Earning an automatic bid in the process, they now await their seeding for the NAIA National Championship, which will be announced Thursday, March 4, at 6 p.m.
The 2021 tournament championship is the fifth for the Wolf Pack and Head Coach Kellie Kennedy. As the SSAC West Division champions, Loyola also owned the best record in the conference, going 11-1 in SSAC play.
Loyola set the tone early, opening the game on an 11-0 run, starting with a layup from Kennedy Hansberry. Seven of those first 11 points came on free throws, including a completed and-1 opportunity by Presley Wascom. The free throws for Cannady would be a theme of the first half, as she went 8-for-8 at the charity stripe in the first 20 minutes.
After going down 11, Middle Georgia rallied back, tying the game at 16-16 just before the end of the opening period. Hansberry sunk a free throw, however, to give Loyola a 17-16 advantage heading into the second quarter.
The Wolf Pack once again went on a lopsided run in the second frame, outscoring the Knights 13-1 over an eight-minute span. Seven of those points came from Taylor Thomas, who made three-straight baskets in that span. Loyola held a 32-22 lead at the halftime break.
Chelsea Gray got the scoring going in the second half, opening the third quarter with a layup, but there were no big scoring runs in the period. The teams each scored 12 in the third quarter, and Loyola took a 44-34 lead into the fourth.
The Knights actually cut the Loyola lead to single digits, 44-36, to start the final period, but the Wolf Pack once again opened up scoring runs to put the game away.
Hansberry and Cannon combined for seven consecutive points near the start of the fourth quarter, stretching the lead back out to 15 points at 51-36. Middle Georgia later cut it to single digits, but Loyola closed the championship game out with a 10-1 run, securing their 15th straight victory of the season.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Kellie Kennedy
On Saturday's championship performance:
"It didn't feel easy at all. Defensively, I thought we really worked together and did exactly what we had game-planned to do except we put them on the free-throw line way too much and they were able to stick around. Still, defensively, we held them to 24 percent from the floor and 21 percent from 3, and that's saying a lot."
On the 15-game winning streak and 20-win season:
"It's nice to have 20-win seasons, I'll say that. With COVID, it's pretty impressive that this group was able to do that. That one (loss) on the other side, that's probably more impressive. We just have to keep fighting, keep getting better. We just have a group that bought in, they're committed, they work hard, and they really care. I think that equates to success."
Pack Facts
Taylor Thomas picked up her fourth double-double of the season, and second-straight, after recording 13 points and 10 rebounds. She also led the team with two steals.
Sandra Cannady also recorded her fourth double-double of the season, putting up a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Loyola held Middle Georgia to just 24 percent from the floor and 21 percent from 3-point range.
The Wolf Pack also dominated the rebounding battle 62-32. Chelsea Gray was a big part of that, smashing her previous career-high by grabbing 13 boards.
Jazmene McMillan was the third member of the Pack to hit double figures in scoring, contributing 10 points and five rebounds.
Saturday's win was Loyola's 15th win in a row, giving the team 20 wins on the season. That marks the eighth straight season Loyola has won at least 20 games.
Tournament Schedule
Thursday, Feb. 25
Game 1 | East No. 2 Brewton-Parker 79, West No. 3 Stillman 59
Game 2 | West No. 1 Loyola 84, East No. 4 Florida College 48
Game 3 | East No. 1 Middle Georgia 55, West No. 4 Blue Mountain 46
Game 4 | East No. 3 Faulkner 70, West No. 2 Mobile 53
Friday, Feb. 26
Game 5 | Loyola 89, Brewton-Parker 75
Game 6 | Middle Georgia 67, Faulkner 63
Saturday, Feb. 27
Championship Game: Loyola 66, Middle Georgia 48
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