The Lady ‘Pack celebrated a tremendous Mardi Gras week. The team won all four conference games, and captain Joelle Bordelon, sociology senior, reached a milestone in her Loyola career.
Bordelon scored her 1000th point as a member of the ‘Pack at the free throw line with 5:21 to play against Belhaven.
The point guard said she did not know that she was making history until it was announced over the loudspeaker.
“I probably would have missed,” Bordelon said. “The funny thing is that I have been in such a slump this year [with free throws], but I made every free throw that night.”
The team also overcame a slump. Since mid-January the ‘Pack has turned around a 10-9 season (0-4 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) to a 19-10 (9-5 in the GCAC) team that has its eyes on repeating last season’s tournament run.
The latest win on the ‘Pack’s current tear was a Valentine’s Day 81-53 whooping of William Carey College. In this victory, center Marjorie Bilinksi, finance sophomore, scored a game-high 20 points while grabbing 13 boards, and forward Dani Holland, criminal justice sophomore, scored 12 points and nabbed 11 rebounds. Loyola also got great performances by point guard Bordelon who scored 18 points and guard Kiely Schork, general studies sophomore, who chipped in with 17 points.
According to Bordelon, the team’s hot streak is a result of Coach DoBee Plaisance’s tough practices.
“She trains us for mental and physical endurance,” Bordelon said. “We practice against guys who are over six feet. That makes games seem easy.”
Starting Feb. 3, the ‘Pack revenged earlier losses to Southern University of New Orleans, 74-67; Spring Hill College, 61-46; and University of Mobile, 79-56. Then, the team defeated Belhaven College for the second time, 69-49.
“Some of the teams we play are complacent with winning,” Bordelon said. “They expect to win then get tired and lose it.”
Against the Lady Knights of Southern University, the ‘Pack produced four double-digit scorers led by Holland who tallied 20 points. General studies freshman Christine Mainguy contributed 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for her first career double-double.
In Loyola’s stomping of 25th-ranked Spring Hill, three Lady ‘Pack members achieved double-digits led by Schork who scored 15 points. Holland ripped down 11 rebounds. The game was close with just under 17 minutes to play until the ‘Pack went on a 21-8 run to put the contest out of reach.
The 15th-ranked Lady Rams of the University of Mobile proved to be the second consecutive Top 25 victory for the Lady ‘Pack. Several performances stood out in Loyola’s 17th win. Marjorie Bilinski was on fire, going 11-for-13 from the field and racking up 28 points for the ‘Pack. Bordelon dished out 12 assists, and Mainguy pulled down 12 rebounds to lead the team. Holland had an all-around great game scoring 14 points, grabbing eight boards, shelling out eight assists and victimizing the Lady Rams for six steals. The ‘Pack caused 29 turnovers and held Mobile to 35 percent from the field.
The ‘Pack was slated to attempt its 20th win of the season last night against Dillard University at Dillard.
The last regular-season home game is against LSU-Shreveport tomorrow at 3 p.m.
Ryan Saucier can be reached at [email protected].
