NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola Wolf Pack women's basketball team remained perfect on the season with a non-conference 82-58 victory over the Xavier Gold Nuggets on Monday, moving their record to 14-0 overall this season. Loyola, which is also 7-0 in conference play, will return to Southern State Athletic Conference competition on Thursday when it hosts Blue Mountain Christian for a 5:30 p.m. matchup. 
 

Sandra Cannady, who was named the SSAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week earlier in the day, led the Wolf Pack with eight first-quarter points to help Loyola build a 24-11 lead after the first 10 minutes. After Liz Critton scored the game's first points, Cannady added her first field goal before four straight free throws to make it an early 8-2 lead through the first three minutes. Taylor Thomas got on the board before Cannady's final points of the frame, 12-4. Kennedy Hansberry poured in six more points to give Loyola a commanding advantage. 
 

It was Thomas' turn to go off in the second quarter, scoring eight of the team's 19 points to put Loyola ahead 43-24 at the break. The Wolf Pack took advantage of a long Xavier scoring drought that started at the 2:27 mark of the first quarter and ended at the 7:23 point of the second. Jazmene McMillan had a big 3-pointer, the only one of the game for the Pack, with less than four minutes left in the half, 35-17, then Thomas and Sydni Tangle combined for the final eight points down the stretch to close out the half. 
 

The third quarter was played more evenly than the first two, as both teams scored 18 points. XULA scored the first four points, then after Thomas scored, the Gold Nuggets got a 3-pointer to make it a 45-31 Wolf Pack lead. A made shot by Cannady and free throws by McMillan extended the lead back out to 20, 51-31, but the visitors scored the next 11 of 17 points to narrow the gap. Cannon and Tangle, however, made the final two shots of the quarter to keep Loyola ahead by 19, 61-42. 
 

McMillan and Hansberry helped put the game away in the fourth with eight and five points, respectively, as Xavier was never a threat. 
 

Pack Facts

• Loyola has not lost a game in The Den since Feb. 8, 2020, winning 24 in a row.

• Including Loyola, there are just four undefeated teams left in the NAIA.

• Four Wolf Pack players scored at least 12 points, with Jazmene McMillan pouring in a game-high 17. 

• McMillan made the only three-pointer of the night for the Pack. She's now at an even 50 percent on the season shooting from behind the arc at 19-for-38. 

• Taylor Thomas was the second-leading scorer in the game with 16 points, also adding four assists and two steals. 

• Kennedy Hansberry also put up four assists and two steals to go along with her 12 points. 

• Thomas finished the game just one point away from a career milestone, as she's now scored 999 total points in her four years in New Orleans. 

• Sandra Cannady was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field, scoring 13 points with six rebounds in just 19 minutes played. 

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.