KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The newest edition of the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 poll released on Wednesday, and the Loyola Wolf Pack remains just outside the top 25. Loyola garnered 66 points in the poll, closing the gap on 25th-ranked Indiana Tech, which had 92.
One of the hottest teams in the country entering the final month of the regular season, Loyola (17-2, 9-1 SSAC) is currently on a 13-game winning streak. The Pack most recently extended that streak with an important win over previously undefeated William Carey, 69-63. Despite the loss, the Crusaders are the highest ranked SSAC team, jumping up five spots to No. 14 nationally. Tennessee Southern and Faulkner are the other SSAC teams receiving votes.
With seven games left before the conference tournament, Loyola and William Carey are tied atop the SSAC standings with 9-1 conference records.
The Wolf Pack's three juniors continue to lead the team in scoring, with all averaging double digits through the first 18 games. Deniya Thornton (16.8) and Alissa O'Dell (15.8) both rank in the top five in the SSAC in scoring average, with Caitlin Travis not too far behind at 12.2 points per game. Thornton also leads the conference defensively with 3.0 steals per game, while O'Dell is at the top of the SSAC in field goal percentage at 55.9 percent.
In addition to the efficient offense, O'Dell's 8.2 rebounds per game lead Loyola, which out-rebounds opposing teams by over six boards per game. Three other Wolf Pack players, SeQuoia Carroll (7.1), Thornton (5.9), and Tiarra McPipe (5.1) all average at least five rebounds per contest. The Pack's dominance in the paint has been one part of the team giving up just 58.2 points per game, which is one of the NAIA's best.
Loyola will look to add another win to the streak in a tough road contest at Life University this weekend. The SSAC Game of the Week is set to tip off at 11 a.m. CST on Saturday in Marietta, Ga.
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