NEW ORLEANS – It's been nearly three years since the Loyola University New Orleans women's basketball team has lost a game in The Den, and the ninth-ranked Wolf Pack extended it to 23 straight wins at their home facility on Saturday with an 82-55 decision against the Talladega Tornadoes.Â
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Loyola is now 13-0 overall and 7-0 in Southern States Athletic Conference play, and it sits firmly in first place in the league standings by two games over second-place William Carey. The program's last loss in The Den came on Feb. 8, 2020.Â
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After two minutes of scoreless play, Talladega got on the board first with a 3-pointer that was followed up by field goals each by Kennedy Hansberry and Liz Critton and a 3 by Hansberry to give Loyola a 7-5 lead through three-plus minutes. Jazmene McMillan got a friendly roll on a 3-pointer a few possessions later, then Critton made it a 14-7 lead halfway through the opening frame. Critton, who had six points in the quarter, scored again, 16-9, and Hansberry, who led the team with seven, made two free throws, 20-12 with less than two minutes left. In total, seven Wolf Pack players scored in the first 10 minutes to take a 24-16 lead into the second quarter.Â
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After shooting 50 percent from the floor in the first, Loyola was even better in the second frame. The Pack was 9-for-14 en route to a 46-33 halftime lead, as Sandra Cannady led the Wolf Pack with seven points in the quarter. Tera Snell scored three early points, 29-19, then Taylor Thomas and Tay Cannon added buckets, 34-22, with six-plus minutes left until the break. With a 10-point lead, 37-27, Cannady scored the next seven points for the Wolf Pack, 43-33, and McMillan added a 3-pointer in the final seconds to close out the first half.Â
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Loyola held the Tornadoes to just 10 third-quarter points, extending its lead to 65-43 heading into the final 10 minutes of the game. McMillan got the scoring started with a 3 and Cannady added her 11th point a couple of minutes later, 53-39. Snell scored six of her 11 points in the frame, all of which came in the final four minutes of the third. She got things going at the 3:36 mark, 57-41, then added two more made shots, 63-43, with more than a minute left. Cannady scored the final two points, also adding six points in that 10-minute span.Â
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There wasn't much drama in the fourth quarter, as Loyola continued to pad its lead by outscoring Talladega 17-12. Jada Farrell highlighted the frame, though, scoring nine of her 11 points in those final 10 minutes.Â
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The Pack will continue their homestand on Monday with a non-conference matchup against crosstown rival Xavier. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in The Den.Â
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Pack Facts
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Loyola has not lost a game in The Den since Feb. 8, 2020, winning 23 in a row.Â
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Sandra Cannady recorded yet another double-double, her 11th of the season, with 17 points and 10 rebounds, both of which led the team.Â
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Half of Cannady's career 22 double-doubles have come this season.Â
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Five different Wolf Pack players scored in double figures, including Cannady. Jada Farrell, Taylor Thomas, and Tera Snell each had 11 points, while Jazmene McMillan scored 10.
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Farrell and Snell both put up season highs in points scored.Â
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Snell also was credited with one block, giving her 67 for her career. That ties her with former teammate Kaila Anthony for third on Loyola's all-time blocks list.Â
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