NEW ORLEANS – The (RV) Loyola University New Orleans women's basketball team played its first game at home on Thursday, and the Wolf Pack used a dominant second half to run away from (RV) LSU Alexandria, 88-47. Loyola will now welcome No. 22 LSU Shreveport to The Den on Saturday for a 2 p.m. matchup.
Loyola got off to a hot start with a 10-0 run to begin the contest. LSU Alexandria shot 0-for-8 during that time, finally getting its first bucket at the 6:16 mark of the opening period. Alissa O'Dell had four of Loyola's first 10 points while on that opening run. Deniya Thornton scored four quick points to keep it a nine-point lead, 14-5, but the Generals clawed back to within five, 15-10, with less than four minutes left in the first quarter. That's where the lead stood after 10 minutes, 20-15.
A 3-pointer by the visitors opened the second quarter, 20-18, and LSUA got another to cut the deficit to one, 22-21. Free throws by Tiarra McPipe and two layups by SeQuoia Carroll held off the Generals, 28-24, near the halfway point. Carroll and O'Dell both got to double figures by halftime, as the Wolf Pack built a 38-26 advantage at the break.
Loyola came out of the locker room on fire, racing out to a 49-26 lead before LSUA could get on the board. After O'Dell started the third quarter with a pair of free throws, Thornton hit a 3 and Chandler Caver made a bucket to start an 11-0 run. It ended up being a 24-1 run, which extended the score to 62-27 with two minutes left in the quarter. O'Dell and Thornton each had eight points during that stretch. Taylor Smith hit a 3 in the final minute of the frame to give the Pack a commanding 65-34 lead with 10 minutes to play.
Smith started the final frame the same way she ended the third, adding another triple to Loyola's total, 68-34. Addison Luker notched a trey after that, 71-37. With three minutes to go, Madi Walters sank a 3-pointer to give the Pack a 40-point advantage, 83-43. The Wolf Pack remained a force for the final minutes of Thursday's matchup to earn the team's first home win of the season.
Pack Facts
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Alissa O'Dell led all scorers with 19 points, her highest point total in the three games this season, while shooting 7-of-10 from the floor, 5-of-6 from the line, and grabbing nine rebounds.
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Playing just 24 minutes, Deniya Thornton put up 17 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. She's scored at least 15 points in every game this season.
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Caitlin Travis scored in double figures for the third consecutive game, pouring in 12 points, plus six rebounds and two assists.
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SeQuoia Carroll scored a season-high 10 points while logging nine rebounds. She went 3-for-5 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 at the free throw line. She also came up with two steals.
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Tiarra McPipe and Taylor Smith each scored nine points off the bench. McPipe did most of her damage at the free throw line (7-of-8), while Smith knocked down a pair of three-pointers in the second half.
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Addison Luker led the game in assists with four, also hitting a three-pointer and securing four rebounds.
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