No. 14 Loyola improves to 3-0

MONTGOMERY, Ala.  – The 14th-ranked Loyola Wolf Pack improved their early-season record to 3-0 Friday afternoon, defeating Southeastern (Fla.), 55-53, at the SSAC/Sun Conference Challenge. After playing three straight days of basketball, and four this week, Loyola will take a 10-day break before traveling to Xavier on Monday, Nov. 13. First tip for that contest, which is part of a doubleheader with the mens' teams, is 5:30 p.m.
 

The Wolf Pack had five players score in the opening quarter to help take a slim 14-13 lead after the first 10 minutes of play. A made shot by Alexis Babineaux and two free throws by Morgan Hervey made it a quick 4-0 lead, then after Southeastern tied it, Babineux scored again to make it 6-4. MG Lymon and Alissia O'Dell each earned their first two points, and after SEU took its first lead, 13-12, O'Dell scored again with less than 10 seconds left on the clock. 
 

Deniya Thornton scored the first four points for Loyola to start the second quarter, making it an 18-16 advantage for the Wolf Pack. Jada Washington broke an 18-all tie with her first points, and Bria McClure pushed the lead to 22-18 halfway through. SEU, however, used an 8-2 run the rest of the way to take the 26-24 lead into halftime. 
 

Loyola outscored the Fire 16-8 in third quarter to take a six-point lead, 40-34, into the fourth quarter. Lymon and Thornton tied it at 28-28 two minutes into the frame, but SEU quickly pushed its lead back to four, 32-28, two minutes later. Two free throws and a field goal by McClure put Loyola ahead, 33-32, then both teams were held scoreless for the next three minutes of game time. Four points by Washington, two from Lymon and a free throw a free throw by Caitlin Travis ended the quarter on a good note for Loyola. 
 

Lymon got to double digits in scoring with four quick points to start the fourth quarter, 44-35, and a score by O'Dell made it a double-digit lead for Loyola, 46-35, with eight minutes left on the clock. Lymon scored again, but the Fire scored the next 10 points to trim their deficit to three, 48-45, near the four-minute mark. Southeastern battled to tie it at 53-53 with 22 seconds to go, and after a Wolf Pack turnover with six seconds to go, Southeastern was called for a technical foul. Lymon made one free throw to put Loyola up, then McClure made it a two-point game, 55-53, with another free throw a couple of seconds later. 
 

Pack Facts

• For the first time in her career, MG Lymon led the Wolf Pack in scoring in a game. In her first start at Loyola, the junior put up a career-high 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting while hitting the go-ahead free throw in the closing seconds of the game. 

• Bria McClure hit double digits for the first time, finishing with 12 points, converting on her only triple of the game in the final three minutes. 

• Deniya Thornton finished with nine points and a game-high nine rebounds, plus an assist, block, and steal. 

• Loyola has now won its last three games against Southeastern (Fla.), and the team has started 3-0 for the second consecutive season. 

• The Wolf Pack held the Fire to just 25.8 percent shooting for the game. 

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