Strong second half propels Loyola Saturday

NEW ORLEANS – After trailing by as many as six points during the first half Saturday in The Den, the Loyola Wolf Pack women's basketball team roared back in the second half to earn a 70-59 win over the Life University Running Eagles. The three-game homestand continues for the Wolf Pack (14-9, 8-4 SSAC) on Thursday when the team will look to make it three consecutive wins in a 5:30 p.m. matchup with Blue Mountain Christian. 
 

The first quarter featured five ties and five lead changes, resulting in an 18-18 score after 10 minutes. Four quick points by Deniya Thornton gave Loyola a 6-3 lead, then after Life took the lead, four points from Alyssa O'Dell and two free throws from MG Lymon tied it at 12-all. Kate Thompson gave Loyola the advantage after that, but again, the Running Eagles pulled back ahead. A 3-pointer by Libby Thompson in the final seconds nodded the score at the end of the first quarter. 
 

After Thornton put the Pack on top with a 3 in the early going of the second quarter, 21-18, Life used an 8-0 run to go in front. O'Dell ended that run with a 3-pointer and Kate Thompson tied it after an offensive rebound on the next possession, 26-26. The visitors scored four quick points after that to hold the lead for the rest of the half, as Kate Thompson and Caitlin Travis combined to score Loyola's final four points to make it a 34-30 deficit at the break. 

Loyola started to create its separation in the fourth quarter. The Pack scored the first eight points of the quarter, 56-44, and their defense held the Running Eagles to 0-for-4 shooting with four turnovers during the first four-plus minutes. A 3-pointer by Kate Thompson highlighted that early run, then five points by Thornton and a bucket from O'Dell brought the score to 63-48 with three minutes to go. From there, Loyola closed out the game with ease for another conference win. 

Pack Facts

• Kate Thompson posted her third double-double of the season and set a new career high in scoring with 17 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, and three blocks. 

• Loyola's leading scorer on the season, Deniya Thornton poured in a game-high 18 points while adding three blocks, six rebounds, two steals, and two assists. 

• Caitlin Travis put up 13 points and four assists, making 9-of-10 shots at the free-throw line. 

• Alissa O'Dell also got to double figures with 10 points, six boards, and a career-high four steals. 

• Four starters scored at least 10 points, and MG Lymon was one point away, with the starting guard contributing nine points, a game-high six assists, and three steals.