When Kiely Schork came to Loyola in 2003, the team had yet to have a winning season.
In the five years since, Loyola has eclipsed the .500 mark in each year.
“I am proud to say that I was a part of that change. We made a difference,” Schork, mass communication senior, said. During her career, the Loyola women’s basketball team has had unprecedented success, but now she, and three other seniors, are saying goodbye to Loyola.
Kim Rigg, Adama Mballow, Rachel Kovach and Schork each oversaw a phenomenal stretch for the ‘Pack in their careers, vaulting the team to its first Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament title in 2007 and making it into the Elite Eight in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes National Championship Tournament in March.
It’s a stretch that puts Schork as the all-time leading scorer in program history, with 1,842 points and 493 three-pointers. Schork, a shooting guard, was a starter since her freshman year and averaged 10.7 points, 3.9 assists and 2.5 rebounds this season.
In the national tournament, Schork led the team in scoring in its upset of Point Loma Nazarene University . She scored 21 points.
She also earned the 2008 Hustle Award for her performance in the national tournament and now holds the record as the only Loyola women’s basketball player to be named All-GCAC each year she has competed in the program.
Despite her accolades and records, she considers getting to the Elite Eight at this year’s national tournament her most significant accomplishment.
Schork plans to remain in New Orleans for a year after graduating before returning home to California.
Kim Rigg, psychology senior, was a starter for every game during the 2007-2008 season.
Playing center and forward, she averaged 7.4 points and 5.7 rebounds. Rigg’s most memorable achievement was defeating Point Loma Nazarene University in this year’s national tournament.
“I have truly enjoyed my time here at Loyola and am very appreciative to have the opportunity to compete in basketball,” she said. “I am honored to be part of athletic history and I wish Dobee and the returning players the best of luck next year.”
With graduation nearing, Rigg is deciding between a career in medicine or physical therapy.
Adama Mballow, sociology senior, played center for the Wolfpack for two seasons after transferring to Loyola from Georgia Perimeter College.
Mballow played in 20 games this season and averaged 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds. She turned in a career-best performance on senior night March 1 against Tougaloo College, scoring a career-high of 17 points.
Rachel Kovach, history senior, suffered a career-ending spinal injury during a game as a freshman, but has since remained on the team as an assistant.
Despite not being able to play, Kovach is thankful for all the memories she has with her teammates, especially watching them play at this year’s NAIA National Championship Tournament.
“Those games were the most exciting and fun games that I have ever been a part of,” she said.
“This team has been like a family to me for three years, and I’ll cherish our times together forever.”
Kovach plans to attend law school next year, either at Loyola or somewhere close to her home in Albany, La.
Head Coach Dobee Plaisance said she has enjoyed coaching this “very special group of seniors,” each of whom played a role in the team’s success.
“We’re a far better place today than we were when they walked on campus,” she said.
Plaisance added that she has a “very optimistic” outlook for next season.
The team will lose two starters, Rigg and Schork, but it will return a nucleus of key players and welcome a strong recruiting class, including new signee Amy Sprout from Dominican High School in New Orleans.
This versatile athlete has excelled in basketball, volleyball and track, and will likely play guard or forward for Loyola next season.
Andy Pham can be reached at [email protected].
