Box Score The 24th-ranked Wolf Pack rebounded after Thursday's loss, defeating Mobile by 44 points Saturday in the team's first game in The Den this season
NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola Wolf Pack women's basketball team had a near-perfect start in their first home game in The Den this season, using that to take down Southern States Athletic Conference rival Mobile, 113-69. The win moves Loyola to 10-4 overall this season and 4-2 in SSAC play, and it's next scheduled to host William Carey Saturday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m. Moving forward, the remaining home games on the schedule will take place on campus in The Den.
The Wolf Pack had a productive start to the game with a 40-point first quarter, leading the Rams 40-13 after the first 10 minutes. Loyola was red-hot from the 3-point line, starting the game by making eight of its first nine shots from beyond the arc. Sydni Tangle contributed from long-range the most, hitting all five of her 3s to score 15 points in the opening quarter. It was Taylor Thomas, though, who made Loyola's first 3-pointer, which came in the first minute and a half, then another 3 by Thomas quickly pushed the Pack's advantage to 8-2. Tay Cannon and Sandra Cannady each converted an old-fashioned 3-point-play, and that was followed by four 3s by Tangle in less than two minutes of game time. Tangle hit her fifth 3-pointer as time expired.
Loyola kept up the pace in the second quarter, scoring 26 more points to double-up the Rams by halftime, 66-33. Kennedy Hansberry scored the team's first seven points with a couple of buckets and a 3-pointer, then she added five more points to give the Pack a 54-20 lead with seven minutes until halftime. MG Lymon and Cannady got in on the action, too, each recording a couple of made shots to make it a 63-29 game, and Jazmene McMillan added the team's 11th 3 of the first half in the final 90 seconds.
Nothing changed in the second half, as the Wolf Pack extended their lead to 42 by the end of the third quarter. Cannon scored 12 of Loyola's first 14 points, including five made shots in a row, to put the Pack up 82-45 through the first seven minutes of the frame. Liz Critton, Hansberry, Tangle and McMillan all made baskets in the final few minutes to send Loyola into the fourth quarter leading 90-48. Mobile chipped into Loyola's lead a little in the fourth quarter, but the Wolf Pack cruised en route to the win.
Pack Facts
In addition to being a season-high for team points, Loyola's 113 points are the most against a conference opponent since the Pack totaled 117 points in a win against Brewton-Parker on Jan. 4, 2018, which is the school record.
Kennedy Hansberry entered the Loyola record book, as her seven assists on Saturday gave her 299 career assists, putting her in a tie with Trenese Smith and former teammate Kaila Anthony for ninth place on the Wolf Pack all-time assists list.
Loyola was 54.2 percent from 3-point range (13-for-24), marking a new season-high.
Sydni Tangle was a big reason behind Loyola's proficient 3-point shooting against the Rams. In the final 3:38 of the first quarter, Tangle was a perfect 5-of-5 from long range. She finished with 17 points, four assists.
Tay Cannon led the way in scoring, pouring in 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting while grabbing five boards and three steals.
In her first start of the season, Liz Critton tallied a new season-high in points with 13 after shooting 5-for-7 on her field goal attempts. Critton also finished with five rebounds and two steals.
Also notching a new season-high, MG Lymon scored eight points with two rebounds and two assists.
Sandra Cannady was one rebound away from a double-double, putting up a stat line of 11 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. The three blocked shots are the most of her career in New Orleans, and it ties the most blocks in a game by a Wolf Pack player this season.
Loyola had seven players score in double figures, with Jazmene McMillan contributing 13 points, while Taylor Thomas had 10. Thomas also dished out eight assists, tying a season-high.
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