Loyola’s women’s basketball team was matched up against two-time defending national champions Southern Nazarene University from Oklahoma on March 17 at the NAIA national tournament in Jackson, Tenn.
Southern Nazarene played like defending national champions from the beginning, taking a 55-20 lead at halftime. The team shot a blazing 64.9 percent from the field including a smoldering 6-11, or 54.5 percent, behind the arc to grab the 35-point intermission advantage. Loyola was held to 17.9 percent from the field including 20 percent from the 3-point line.
Loyola was able to win the second half, but the 35-point lead proved too high of a mountain for the ‘Pack to climb. The team improved to 31.7 percent from the field in the second half and 33 percent from 3-point range. These marks were nearly double the first half totals.
In the end, Southern Nazarene won 86-55 putting all but one of its players in the scoring column. This collective effort was lead by Jamie Morgan who scored a team high 15 points and grabbed seven boards and Shanda Murdoch who scored 14 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
Loyola had several bright spots in the losing effort. Guard Kiely Schork, general studies sophomore, led all scorers with 23 points. Co-captain and guard Joelle Bordelon, sociology senior, scored 10 points and dished out five assists.
Forward Dani Holland, criminal justice junior, led all rebounders with 11 boards, and forward Christine Mainguy, general studies freshman, pitched in with 10 rebounds of her own.
After defeating the ‘Pack, Southern Nazarene lost 80-64 in the next round to Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.).
Union University in Tennessee ended up claiming the national championship over Oklahoma City 67-63.
Loyola coach DoBee Plaisance was upbeat with an unrelentingly positive attitude after the ‘Pack’s tournament loss.
“I feel blessed,” Plaisance said. “The team worked extremely hard.”
She commended the other team for being able to produce when Loyola could not.
“They are two-time defending national champions,” she said. “They hit a high percentage. We got a lot of good looks, but we couldn’t knock them down.”
Plaisance said a height deficit and players recruited from abroad made Southern Nazarene an insurmountable opponent.
“They were physically strong with several foreigners,” she said.
Though the ‘Pack was not able to pull out the victory in Oman Arena that night, the team garnered positive attention after the game. Plaisance said that an outside source pulled her aside after the game and told her Loyola’s determination was impressive despite the large deficit.
Plaisance said that the outside source observed, “They did not complain. They kept fighting hard.”
The first-round national tournament game marked the final appearance in Wolfpack uniform for Bordelon, guard Kate Pilgreen, music business senior, and guard Skye Landry, management senior.
Plaisance said her parting words as coach were what she says she tells all of her players: “Life is not about the destination but about the journey.”
Plaisance said the seniors should all be commended for the way they have represented Loyola and will be missed.
Ten players from this season’s roster are scheduled to return next year, including four of the five starters.
Ryan Saucier can be reached at [email protected].
