Box Score NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) women's basketball team accepted a 71-53 loss in a non-conference road match versus Jesuit rival the Loyola University (La.) Wolf Pack at The Den on Friday night.
Spring Hill and the Wolf Pack (7-3) opened the game by trading 3-point buckets, but junior guard
Brittney Davis hit two free throws to give the Badgers their first lead of the game at 7:50 in the period.
The Badgers held a 17-13 lead at the end of the 1st period of play and built as much as a 21-13 lead before Loyola answered back with an 8-point run to make it 21-21 with 6:02 until halftime. The Wolf Pack continued to control the action in the 2nd period taking a 30-25 lead at 3:35 off a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Freshman Badger forward
Tiffany Valentine knocked down a longer 2-point jumper 8 seconds before the break as the score stood in favor of Loyola 31-38 at halftime.
By the end of the 3rd period, Spring Hill trailed 50-38. The Badgers cut the deficit to 52-45 with 8:26 remaining, but could draw no closer.
The Badgers shot 32.2% (19-59) overall and 28.6% (4-14) from 3-point distance SHC won the rebound battle by a 42-34 margin, but lost 17 turnovers to eight Loyola steals that the Wolf Pack converted into 17 points. Junior
Camry Johnson hauled in 12 rebounds and junior center
Leah Washington finished the night with 12 points.
Loyola earned a 42.9% (24-56) night from the floor, including a 52.9% (9-17) from beyond the 3-point arc. The Wolf Pack suffered 10 turnovers against three Badger steals that turned into just four points on the other end of the court. Briana Oglesby scored 16 points while Kylah Jones put 11 points in the baskets and Jackie Anderson added 10 points for the home team.
The Badgers (3-7) will next play at non-conference opponent Southern University in New Orleans (SUNO) Lady Knights (2-7) at The Castle in New Orleans at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 31. Spring Hill defeated the Lady Knights 75-61 at home on Wednesday night, but SUNO leads the historic series 22-10 since 2001.
