NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) women's basketball team extended its current losing streak to non-conference Jesuit rival the Loyola University (La.) Wolf Pack to 26 games with a 79-54 loss in The Den on Tuesday afternoon.
The NAIA's 17
th-ranked Wolf Pack (12-3) held a 47-34 advantage at intermission and expanded the lead to 60-40 seven minutes into the third quarter. Leading 63-42 heading into the final quarter, Loyola salted away the contest with a 9-1 run to open the 10 minutes.
Senior SHC forward
Tiffany Valentine of Houston, Texas scored 10 points and junior forward
Katie Krout of Tuscaloosa, Ala. hauled down a team-high six rebounds. Senior guard
Elise Reilly of Covington, La. dished out five assists.
As a team, the Badgers shot 34.6% (19-55) overall in the game, including 20% (3-15) from beyond 3-point distance. SHC turned the ball over 25 times against 15 steals by the Wolf Pack defense as Loyola outscored the visitors 28-16 in points off turnovers. The Badgers hit on 72.2% (13-18) of their free throw opportunities.
Paige Franckiewicz led the Wolf Pack with 19 points as Loyola shot 41.9% (26-62) from the field and 35.7% (10-28) from 3-point range. Loyola scored on 60.7% (17-28) of its free throws and lost 16 turnovers to 10 Badger steals as the rebounding was even at 39 boards apiece.
Spring Hill's women last defeated the Wolf Pack in January 2005 in Mobile and the last Badger victory in New Orleans came in February 2003.
The Badgers (4-11, 3-3 SIAC West) will host Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) West Division foe the LeMoyne-Owen College (LOC) Magicians (7-7, 4-3 SIAC West) on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center.
