Women’s basketball now 6-0 in SSAC play

NEW ORLEANS – The No. 19 Loyola Wolf Pack continued their dominance at home on Saturday, taking down Southern States Athletic Conference foe Life University, 74-56, in The Den. The win moves Loyola to 12-1 overall and 6-0 in league play to stay atop the standings. 
 

Loyola is also 7-0 at home this season and 49-5 dating back to the 2019-20 season. 
 

The Pack is set for two road league games next week, first traveling to Blue Mountain Christian on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. before a matchup with UT Southern on Saturday at 12 p.m.
 

The Wolf Pack got half of their first-quarter points from the free throw line, as the Running Eagles raced out to a 19-12 lead after the first 10 minutes of play. Making just three shots from the floor, Loyola was still able to stay close thanks to forcing Life to just 36.8 percentage shooting as well. Deniya Thornton got Loyola's scoring started with an old-fashioned 3-point play, and a score by Alissa O'Dell tied the game early, 5-5. Life went back ahead by four, but O'Dell scored another field goal then two more free throws to make it an 11-9 deficit. Life would use a 7-0 run to help build its lead by the end of the quarter. 
 

Loyola greatly improved its shooting in the second quarter by making 11-for-17 shots on its way to a 31-point quarter. The defense continued, too, holding the Running Eagles to just eight points to make it a 43-27 Wolf Pack lead by halftime. Scores by Sydni Tangle, MG Lymon and Sandra Cannady opened the frame and quickly tied the game at 19-all. Then, an and-1 opportunity for Jada Farrell gave Loyola its first lead of the game, 24-23, with five minutes until halftime. From there, the Wolf Pack finished the half on a 19-4 run, led by eight points from Taylor Thomas and five from Lymon, to close the first 20 minutes of play strong. 
 

Both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net in the third quarter, but Life was able to chip into Loyola's lead, 45-36, with three minutes to go. Thomas hit a 3-pointer and Cannady made a tough bucket, and that helped Loyola go up 18, 56-38, entering the final quarter. 
 

Bria McClure helped start the fourth strong, making two free throws and a 3-pointer to push ahead 61-38 with more than eight minutes to go. Thomas and Cannady kept Loyola's foot on the gas, extending the lead to 25, 65-40, two minutes later. From there, Life was never a threat as the Wolf Pack cruised to victory. 
 

Pack Facts

• Loyola is an undefeated 4-0 against Life since the Running Eagles joined the SSAC in 2022.

• Taylor Thomas paced the Wolf Pack with a game-high 19 points, plus four assists and four steals while committing no fouls in 33 minutes. 

• Thomas also eclipsed 1,300 points and is at 1,312 for her career. 

• Sandra Cannady was second on the team in scoring with 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds. 

• Cannady and Bria McClure also each had three assists. 

• This was Loyola's sixth game this year with at least 10 steals. 

• Loyola has won eight games this year by double digits.