After a much-needed four-day break, the Loyola women’s basketball team rebounded from a dismal start to its conference play. The team has faced tough opponents, according to Coach DoBee Plaisance.
“We play in one of the toughest basketball conferences in the country,” Plaisance said.
The ‘Pack lost to Mobile and Dillard in the Den last week, two of Loyola’s three opponents in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference that are ranked in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics poll. Mobile and Dillard were ranked 16th and 23rd as of Tuesday.
The Wolfpack, 10-9 in the regular season, won its first conference game Monday over Belhaven 75-62, snapping a four-game losing streak.
Loyola surged ahead early in the contest with a double-digit lead throughout most of the first half. The Lady Blazers fought back and ended the half within six, 41-35. In the second half, Loyola led by as many as 19 points thanks to 3-point ace Kiely Schork, general studies sophomore. Schork hit 7-of-15 from behind the arc and had a game-high 27 points.
Schork has been on target from the 3-point range, making 25 of 48 in the last five games. She set a school record with nine three pointers against Mobile on Jan. 10.
Loyola shot 54 percent from the field and held Belhaven to 44 percent. The ‘Pack also out rebounded the Blazers 39 to 25.
Marjorie Bilinski, finance sophomore, scored 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field. Joelle Bordelon, sociology senior, had 10 assists and Dani Holland, criminal justice sophomore, grabbed nine rebounds. Both were game highs.
Nicole Jordan led Belhaven with 17 points, and Tamekia Foley added 12 points. Amanda Barbee dished out seven assists to go along with her nine points in the loss.
Loyola will travel to William Carey tomorrow. Tip off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Loyola slips out of top 30
After knocking down two teams at the Jesuit Classic in Mobile, Loyola received five votes in the NAIA Division I women’s poll on Jan. 4. They ranked 30th in the country. It was the third consecutive week that Loyola received votes. After losing their first conference game to Southern University New Orleans, Loyola has not received a vote.
Plaisance said a tough schedule is the reason for the team’s struggle to live up to the high expectations set by last year’s success.
“We’re working hard at practice,” Plaisance said. “It’s a matter of taking care of our mistakes. This team has always left it out on the court.”
In the 2003-04 season the Wolfpack tied for third in the conference and lost in the finals of the conference tournament to Dillard.
The team did not lose any players from last year and added the first class of scholarship players since 1972.
Holland is Player of the Week
Holland was selected Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week during the winter break. Holland averaged 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals in the Wolfpack’s victories over Regis and Rockhurst over New Year’s weekend.
Holland led Loyola in last Thursday’s game against Dillard, racking up a double-double. She led Loyola with 17 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field. She grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. The ‘Pack fell 68-58.
Michael Nissman can be reached at [email protected].
