In this fast-paced and chaotic age, many psychologists prescribe a simple way for someone to achieve happiness: Find your center.The Loyola women’s basketball team appears to have heeded these words and done just that. This center is Carlee White, political science sophomore. White, a six-foot one-inch native of Hammond, emerged out of the ‘Pack this past week, leading the team with 23 points and seven rebounds per game.It was no coincidence that the Wolfpack enjoyed its most successful week of the season, going 2-1, capping it off with a win against rival Spring Hill. For her efforts, White was named GCAC player of the week. Head coach Dobee Plaisance said she saw this coming.”The numbers she’s putting up don’t surprise me at all,” Plaisance said. “She’s tough mentally and physically, and now she’s just living up to her potential.”Plaisance said the same could apply to the rest of the team. All the other players have followed White’s lead, she said.Despite the team losing to SUNO 64-60 last Thursday in the Den, Plaisance said she was more than pleased with her team’s performance.White led the ‘Pack with 15 points and nine boards, while Stacia Jackson, communications freshman, added 15 points. But SUNO’s powerful inside game proved to be too much for Loyola. “They had at least two players who were six-foot three or more, and they were scoring sometimes with two or three people on them,” Plaisance said. “Maybe next time we’ll be able to wear them down a little more…. But it was still a great game.”Against Tougaloo, White paced the ‘Pack again, scoring 27 points and grabbing six rebounds as Loyola knocked off the Bulldogs in Jackson, 72-62.But the Wolfpack saved its best for last, knocking off the Spring Hill Badgers in the Den on Monday, 77-73.In a fiercely competitive game, the ‘Pack shot 64 percent from the field en route to its second straight victory.Again, White was the star, leading all scorers with 28 points and nabbing nine rebounds. Jackson added 15 points, and Melissa St. Mary, management junior, had 14 points for Loyola.With the back-to-back wins, the ‘Pack is now 5-19 overall and 2-8 in conference play — and eager to continue winning.”Our guards are taking care of the ball and executing. We’re getting to the line more, and our shots are finally starting to fall,” Plaisance said.”I’ve said since August we could do this. I’m not doing anything different. It’s all been the players.”
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