Melissa St. Mary, management junior, and Carlee White, political science sophomore and the women’s basketball team’s co-captain, were named to the All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference team this past week. St. Mary finished the season fifth in the GCAC in scoring, averaging 13.9 points per game. Both had the distinction of having made the most three-pointers of anyone in the conference. She hit 72 baskets from behind the arc. Her scoring total of 418 points for the season is enough to place her fourth on the all-time single scoring list for women’s basketball at Loyola.White finished seventh in the GCAC in scoring and rebounds, averaging 13.7 and 6.7 respectively. She also ranked third in the conference with 74.3 percent free throw shooting. Her season total of 412 points puts her fifth on the all-time single scoring list. “It was a big honor,” White said. “I was named in the preseason as an All-Conference prediction, but I didn’t know if my stats were good enough.”
Homecoming frustrationsThe ‘Pack went into last Thursday’s homecoming game against the University of Mobile with high hopes in front of a large crowd.Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed as Mobile came away with a 66-49 win.Despite the loss, head coach DoBee Plaisance said she was impressed by her team’s play.”Mobile was a great game,” Plaisance said. “We played very well against a very good team.”According to Plaisance, Mobile finished the season in first place in the conference and ranked 15th nationally.She said that her team adapted well to playing a top quality team.
Victory on the roadAfter the homecoming loss, the team went on the road to Alabama to face the Talladega Tornadoes. The ‘Pack started the game slowly, but was able to cut into a 15 point deficit to trail 38-36 at half. White scored a career-high 32 points to lead the team to a 66-63 victory.”I was amazed I scored that much. It didn’t feel like 32 points,” White said.St. Mary added 16 points, and Stacia Jackson, communications freshman, had 13 points and seven rebounds.”This game was indicative to the character of the team. We have been playing well and practicing well. We have been intense and upbeat,” Plaisance said. “Talladega was a very exciting game. We rose to the occasion, and were able to adapt our defense to their team. We executed the game plan perfectly.” The win against Talladega helped the women to advance to the GCAC tourney, where they played Tougaloo Tuesday night at the Alario Center. The ‘Pack fell 67-47 and ended the season with a record of 8-24.According to White, the game was a discouraging way to end the season.”It was definitely not what we had planned for,” she said. “We didn’t play good basketball.”Plaisance echoed White’s thoughts.”We played hard, but we didn’t play well,” she said. “It was very frustrating.”Plaisance said she felt the women played to their ability, but were unable to execute as well as they could have.St. Mary led the team with 18 points, followed by Jackson with 11 points and seven rebounds.Looking to the futureWith another season in the books, the team now looks to the past for clues as how to use the next year as a chance to improve.”It was a good year because we built a total team,” White said. “If we keep that, we’ll be good for next year.”She said that it is a continuing process for the team, one that she thinks will be beneficial to the team next year.Plaisance said that she felt much the same way, and that the solid foundation built this year will be a great starting ground to build on for next year’s team.
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