The Wolfpack trailed briefly in the contest as Carey’s Kristin Blackledge hit a jumper and was fouled by Catherine Blanchard. Blackledge converted the free throw to give the Lady Saders a 5-3 lead with 17:28 to play in the first half.
Loyola tied the game on the next possession as Trenese Smith hit a jumper in the paint to make the score 5-5.
Blanchard gave the Wolfpack the lead for good at 17:06 with a three ball to give Loyola an 8-5 advantage.
Later, Loyola utilized a 20-5 run to close out the last seven minutes of the first half to take a 44-23 lead at the break. Trenese Smith had five points during the run including a three pointer at the 7:06 mark to put her over 600 points for the season- a Loyola single season record. She had 14 points in the first half.
Loyola also scored 13 unanswered in the final 2:38 of the half. Kiely Schork had six of the final 13 points including a three pointer with nine seconds remaining. She had nine points in the game, all in the first half.
In the second half, the Wolfpack stretched the lead to as many as 28 points when Christine Mainguy hit a bucket off an assist from Schork to make the score 62-34 with 15:08 to play. Carey could get no closer than 19 points in the second half as Loyola cruised to the win.
Trenese Smith led all scorers 29 points. She was 12 of 19 from the field and 4 of 10 from beyond the arc. It is the 12th game that she has scored 20 or more points in a game. She currently has 619 points on the season. Smith is the only player in Wolfpack history to score 600 points or more in a season.
Trenell Smith finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists for the triple double. She was 5 of 9 from the field and converted 9 of 10 from the charity stripe. Kim Rigg had 15 points and Christine Mainguy scored 10 to round out the leaders for Loyola.
For William Carey (15-11), Kristin Blackledge led with 16 points. Fallon Hartfield had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the double double. Taphne Jackson --11 points and Shonte Kennedy –10 points completed the leaders for the Lady Saders.
Loyola improves to 26-5 on the season. 26 wins is the most in the programs history besting last season’s mark of 25 wins. 96 points is the most points since Loyola defeated Atlanta Christian 99-53 on November 20, 2004. The Wolfpack have won 26 straight wins against GCAC foes in The Den. Loyola is ranked No. 15 in the latest NAIA women’s basketball poll.
The Wolfpack will face Xavier in a rematch of last year’s GCAC championship. Tip off Tuesday in The Den is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Comments from Loyola head coach DoBee Plaisance: “Our defensive execution was the difference tonight. I thought we played well on both ends of the floor particularly in the first half. We showed great composure tonight. Trenese and Trenell have been consistent all year. As evident tonight with Trenese getting the single season record and Trenell getting the triple double. We’re looking forward to playing in another GCAC championship.”
Helpful links:
http://wolfpack.loyno.edu
http://wolfpack.loyno.edu/giving
http://gcaconf.com
http://naia.org
http://loyolamaroon.com
http://blog.nola.com/wolfpack/
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