No. 16 Wolf Pack defeats Mobile 72-54 in SSAC tournament

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Top-seeded Loyola University New Orleans got 18 points and a season-high 15 rebounds from Alissa O'Dell in a 72-54 women's basketball victory Thursday against Mobile in the women's basketball quarterfinals of the Southern States Athletic Conference Championship tournament.
   

The Wolf Pack (24-3, ranked 16th in the NAIA) will play fourth-seeded William Carey in the semifinals at 5 p.m. CST Friday at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl. 
 

O'Dell, announced Wednesday at SSAC Player of the Year, was 7-of-10 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the line in her 10th double-double this season.
 

Deniya Thornton, with 17 points and seven rebounds, was the Wolf Pack's other double-figure scorer. Loyola outrebounded Mobile 54-31 and got eight rebounds from SeQuoia Carroll and six apiece from Caitlin Travis and Tiarra McPipe.  
       

Jada Johnson scored 19 points and Cierra Highland 11 for ninth-seeded Mobile (10-20).
 

Thornton's layup at 6:22 of the first quarter, part of a 10-0 run, put Loyola ahead to stay at 7-6. It was 40-24 at halftime, and the Wolf Pack outscored Mobile 30-16 in the final 14 minutes after the Rams cut their deficit to four points.
      

Loyola outshot Mobile 41.7 to 31.7 percent from the floor. The Wolf Pack — No. 1 in the NAIA in free throws made and attempted per game — was 19-of-28 from the line to Mobile's 9-of-15.                

Loyola advanced to the SSAC semifinals for the 13th consecutive season.

Tournament Schedule

Wednesday, Feb. 25
Game 1 | #10 ABAC def. #7 Thomas, 70-66
Game 2 | #9 Mobile def. #8 Brewton-Parker, 90-71
 

Thursday, Feb. 26
Game 3 | #3 UT Southern def. #6 Blue Mountain, 75-72
Game 4 | #2 Faulkner def. #10 ABAC, 76-62
Game 5 | #1 Loyola def. #9 Mobile, 72-54
Game 6 | #4 William Carey def. #5 Life, 55-49
 

Friday, Feb. 27 
Game 7 | 1:00 p.m. | #3 UT Southern vs. #2 Faulkner
Game 8 | 5:00 p.m. | #1 Loyola vs. #4 William Carey    
 

Saturday, Feb. 28 
Championship | 4:00 p.m. | Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8
 

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