Growing up in Burlingame, Calif., mass communication senior Kiely Schork was well aware of the rivalry between the University of California and Stanford University.
So she was especially excited to be traveling home to play the California Golden Bears and St. Mary’s College as a member of Loyola’s basketball team.
They went straight from the airport to her parents’ house, where they were greeted by the entire Schork clan. That evening her stepfather prepared dinner for the team, her sister and her five brothers.
Adorned with trophies and photos from her high school team and prom, Schork’s room hadn’t changed since 7th grade.
About 50 Schork family members and friends attended the game, wearing T-shirts her parents had made as the Wolfpack took on the St. Mary’s Gales. Her grandmother held up a “Go Wolfpack!” sign.
“The game was physical, and St. Mary’s was an aggressive team,” Schork said. “I fouled out about the last minute of the fourth period. We were down by two so we had to foul to send them to the line.”
St. Mary’s missed a free throw after Schork’s foul, giving the Gales a three-point lead. After giving her team one last opportunity to tie, Schork retired to the bench. Christine Mainguy, management senior, scored on a clutch 3-pointer to send the game into overtime.
They eventually lost 93-86 to their Division I opponent. But, with the match against the NCAA’s No.7 Cal the next night, the team didn’t have time to be down, Schork said.
“I grew up watching Cal and Stanford battle it out, and it was a dream to play against one of them,” Schork said. She made the best of it, making five 3-pointers and finishing with 18 points despite a 93-65 loss.
HOME OPENER LETDOWN AGAINST WILEY
The ‘Pack returned home for their season opener against Wiley College Nov. 9. Loyola struggled to find a rhythm the entire game, and Wiley returned home with the upset, 74-61.
Wiley produced more on each possession. Speedy guard Ciara Sanders led the night with seven assists and continually fed the ball inside to forward Linda Emeghebo, who led the game with 23 points.
Compensating with speed for lack of size, the Wildcats held Loyola to tough shots on offense where they went 18 for 55 in field goals.
Wiley head coach Johnetta Hayes said containing Loyola was their primary goal going into the match. The ‘Pack had 32 turnovers to Wiley’s 20.
Trenell Smith, management sophomore, led the team with 18 points. Trenese Smith, also a management sophomore, had 12 points and 12 rebounds. Schork went 2-for-8 from the field with six of those from behind the three-point line.
Head coach Dobee Plaisance said the team played without aggression and looked nervous.
“It had nothing to do with X’s and O’s,” Plaisance said. “We didn’t prepare mentally for this game.”
The loss broke the 18 game winning streak for games at home.
Afterwards, a ceremony was held and the members from last year’s conference-winning team received their rings.
A RETURN TO FORM AGAINST CONCORDIA-SALEM
The ‘Pack returned to form the following night, defeating Concordia-Salem 83-51 at The Den.
Kimberly Rigg, psychology pre-med senior, earned her first double-double of the season with 23 points and 17 rebounds.
After the first few minutes Loyola led for the rest of the game with five players scoring in the double digits. Trenese Smith and Schork each had 12 points. Rachael Nolan, general studies freshman, and Catherine Blanchard, management senior, came off the bench to score 11 points each.
Don Weaver can be reached at [email protected].
