NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola Wolf Pack women's basketball team turned in a strong fourth quarter against Mobile on Thursday, outscoring the Rams 23-13 in the final 10 minutes to earn the 75-65 conference win. The Wolf Pack (17-9, 11-4 in SSAC) will return to The Den on Saturday, Feb. 22 for a Senior Day matchup against No. 17 William Carey. Tip-off for Saturday's regular-season finale is set for 12 p.m.
Alissa O'Dell started off the matchup for the Wolf Pack by scoring each of its first five buckets. The first two scores gave Loyola a 4-0 lead, then the Rams managed a tie, 6-6. O'Dell swished the final two baskets with the help of MG Lymon and Libby Thompson on the assists, 10-6. After Mobile got within two, 11-9, Caitlin Travis and Lymon combined for a 6-0 run, extending the Loyola lead, 17-9.
After a Mobile triple cut Loyola's lead to five, Joclyen Wyatt hit a free throw to end the first quarter up six, 18-12. Wyatt and Lymon combined for nine points in the first half of the second frame to add to the Wolf Pack lead, 27-18. Travis and O'Dell each scored to keep Loyola's lead at nine, 31-22. The Rams, however, scored fourteen over the final minutes to enter the locker room up, 36-33.
The Rams continued to attack the Wolf Pack defense in the early minutes of the third quarter, but shots by Lymon and O'Dell kept the Wolf Pack close behind, 41-39. After the Rams extended their lead into the midway point of the third frame, a free throw by O'Dell, along with makes by O'Dell and Deniya Thornton got the Pack within one, 48-47. In the final minutes of the third, a make at the foul line by Thornton and a layup by Alexis Babineaux tied things up to end the quarter, 52-52.
The Pack got back in the driver's seat in the fourth quarter, starting with a 7-0 run. Babineaux made a free throw, then Thornton sunk a layup, just before O'Dell added two more baskets to her total, 59-52. With the Rams in foul trouble, the Wolf Pack took advantage of every chance at the charity stripe, making 12 attempts in the final five minutes. A triple got the Rams within one, but Lymon made a three-point play to keep the Pack in front, 64-60. In the final two minutes, O'Dell, Travis, Wyatt, and Lymon made shots at the foul line to seal the deal with a double-digit victory over the conference rivals, 75-65.
Pack Facts
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After scoring 29 points against Blue Mountain a week ago, Alissa O'Dell again matched her career high with 29 points Thursday against Mobile. Her scoring was efficient, hitting 11-of-16 from the field and 7-of-8 at the free throw line.
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O'Dell also grabbed 11 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season.
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Deniya Thornton neared a double-double, securing a career-high 14 rebounds plus nine points and three blocks.
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MG Lymon, who had a game-high six assists to go along with 14 points, also blocked three shots Thursday for a new career high.
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Caitlin Travis reached double figures for the sixth consecutive game, putting up 10 points, plus three steals and two blocks in the first half.
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