NEW ORLEANS – The 17th-ranked Loyola Wolf Pack women's basketball team had a tough test to open their season. Playing at Webber International University in Babson Park, Florida, Loyola took down No. 6 Southeastern (Fla.), 84-68, in the first game of the SSAC/Sun Conference Challenge. 
 

Loyola will next play Florida Memorial on Saturday at 11 a.m. EDT to conclude the trip. 
 

The Wolf Pack started the game with the first five points en route to a 20-11 lead after the first 10 minutes. Sandra Cannady scored four of those points, too, but Southeastern battled to take an 8-5 lead halfway through the opening frame. Cannady scored again and two free throws by Taylor Thomas gave Loyola the lead for good, though, 9-8, and Sydni Tangle made it a 13-8 advantage with three minutes left in the first. Cannady finished with nine first-quarter points, and a 3-pointer by Kate Petrovic finished off the scoring. 
 

Loyola won the second quarter but both teams scored in the 20s, as the Wolf Pack went into the break with a 42-31 lead. Tangle made her second 3 to start the second, 23-11, and Kennedy Hansberry and Thomas each scored to keep it a double-digit lead, 27-16. The Fire did cut the score to five, however, 29-24, but Hansberry and Thomas each scored again to push the lead back out to 10, 34-24, with four-plus minutes until halftime. Liz Critton got in on the scoring with three points late in the quarter to help bring the 11-point lead into the locker room. 
 

The Pack's defense forced 12 turnovers in the first half as well, forcing five blocks and collecting six steals in the process. 
 

They stayed ahead with a dominating third quarter, outscoring the Fire 25-12 in the frame to take a 67-43 lead with 10 minutes to play. Thomas and Jazmene McMillan each had 3-pointers in the opening minutes of the half, 52-34, and Tay Cannon, Cannady, Hansberry and Petrovic all contributed to a 12-0 run that ate up more than three minutes of game time, 65-36. 
 

Loyola cruised to victory from there, building a lead as large as 25, 79-54, with 3:43 left in the game.

Pack Facts

• Sandra Cannady was a force to be reckoned with against the Fire, putting up a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, plus two blocks and two steals. 

• Taylor Thomas also had 19 points in the season opener, also grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out a team-high four assists.

• Kennedy Hansberry also put up a solid scoring effort, finishing the game with 18 points, five boards, three assists, and two steals. 

• Four different players had two steals for the Pack against the Fire, with Jazmene McMillan and Sydni Tangle also having two takeaways.

• McMillan also picked up a new career high in blocks after swatting away three shots. 

• Wolf Pack players combined to record nine blocks on Friday. That's the most blocks in a game for Loyola since March 1, 2019 when the team had nine against Stillman. 

• Liz Critton came down with a team-high 11 rebounds against Southeastern. It was her first game in double figures with Loyola. 

• Loyola out-rebounded Southeastern 56-47. That's the most rebounds for the Wolf Pack in a single game since February 16, 2019, when the team grabbed 58 boards against Blue Mountain. 

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.