No. 19 Wolf Pack dominates Dillard at home

NEW ORLEANS – Wednesday's result was never in doubt, as the No. 19 Loyola Wolf Pack women's basketball team routed the Dillard Bleu Devils 85-49 in a non-conference home matchup. The game gave Kellie Kennedy her 350th win as head coach of the Pack. The next contest for Loyola (11-1, 5-0 SSAC) is against one of the best teams in the SSAC, as The Den plays host to 12-2 Life University on Saturday. The game is set for 12 p.m. 
 

The Wolf Pack dominated the first five minutes of the game, racing out to a 13-0 lead on 4-for-5 shooting. The defense was the star of the show, too, as the Wolf Pack collected four steals while holding Dillard to 0-of-5 shooting from the floor. Taylor Thomas scored five of those 13 points, Allissa O'Dell had four, and Sandra Cannady and Lizzy Ratcliff chipped in two a piece. After the Bleu Devils finally got on the board, MG Lymon, Alexis Babineaux, Deniya Thornton and Morgan Hervey all scored their first points to give Loyola eight scorers on its way to a 27-11 lead after the first quarter. 
 

The Wolf Pack shot the ball even better in the second quarter to take a 47-24 lead at the break. They hit 50 percent of their shots during that frame while holding Dillard to just five made baskets. Sydni Tangle and Jada Farrell got on the board in the first couple of minutes, then Libby Thompson made it 11 scorers with her first two points to make it a 40-15 lead. The Bleu Devils scored nine straight after that, but the Pack finished it off with seven straight to end the first half on a good note. 
 

With a 23-point lead at halftime, the Wolf Pack continued to attack the Dillard defense in the third quarter. A Cannady jumper, a free throw from Thomas, and a bucket from O'Dell helped the Wolf Pack extend the lead to 28 three minutes into the second half. With four minutes left in the third frame, a Thornton basket put the Pack at a 30-point lead, 60-30.
 

Heading into the final quarter, the Wolf Pack defense had held the Bleu Devils to 37 points. Hervey got in on the action with six points in six minutes of play. Thompson hit two triples, getting nine points in the fourth quarter. Lymon scored the final points for the Pack to cap off a 36-point victory, 85-49.
 

Pack Facts

• Kellie Kennedy earned her 350th win as head coach of the Wolf Pack on Wednesday. Kennedy's 350 career wins rank among the top 25 for active NAIA head coaches. 

• Loyola has taken the last seven games against Dillard, dating back to the 2018 season. 

• Loyola shared the ball well on Wednesday, totaling 25 assists on 31 made baskets. Also, 12 different players scored against Dillard. 

• Sandra Cannady led all Wolf Pack scorers with 16 points in just 20 minutes. She also tied with a game high in rebounds with five, while also putting up three assists, two steals, and a block. 

• Libby Thompson hit three of her four triples for 14 points plus five rebounds. 

• Alissa O'Dell logged her third game this season scoring in double figures. She was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and 2-of-2 at the stripe for 10 points in 14 minutes. 

• Taylor Thomas led the game with five assists. 

• Deniya Thornton recorded her second game this season with five steals.