Women’s Basketball Holds Lead Against West Georgia for 76-60 Win

The Loyola women’s basketball team denied a late resurgence in their 76-60 victory over the University of West Georgia Nov. 9. Fourth-year guard Jess Finney led the affair with a total of 19 points, followed closely by third-year guard and forward Emma Theodorsson with 15.

Graduate forward Sitori Tanin grabbed the opening tip off for the Ramblers, whose first possession ended with a steal by West Georgia in the paint. Finney drained a three-point shot moments later to get the Ramblers on the board first.

The Wolves got their first point of the night with a layup from first-year forward Destiny Jones, before a three-point shot from third-year guard Kira Chivers was met with a layup from West Georgia’s third-year center K’Nari Holliday. 

The Ramblers went on an 8-1 scoring run in the span of two minutes, with plays from graduate guard Kika Hodge-Carr, Finney and Theodorsson against a lone free throw by Jones. Theodorsson’s layup was the final play before a timeout was called on the court at 14-5.

After the timeout, Theodorsson hit a 3-pointer, only to be met by one from the Wolves’ third-year guard Becca Ledford. Second-year guard Rosalie Mercille continued to add to the Ramblers’ early offensive push with five straight points via 3-pointer and layup.

In the final two minutes of the first quarter, the Ramblers stayed ahead with a 6-4 scoring exchange — first-year forward Brooklyn Vaughn got in on the action with four points along with a successful trip from Finney, while Holliday and fourth-year Zuriyah Davis kept the Wolves afloat at 28-12.

Despite another lone free throw from Jones and a layup from Davis, the first three minutes of the second period largely consisted of offensive miscues through fouls and missed shots. A single free throw from West Georgia fourth-year forward Amanda Blake put the score at 28-16 before Finney finished a layup.

Holliday finished another layup after a Rambler turnover to kick off another minute stretch without scoring, before she ended it herself with a single free throw. In the next minute and a half, the Ramblers went on a 9-2 run, with Finney, Theodorsson and Chivers chipping in with three points each.

After an extended scrum in the Loyola paint ended with unsuccessful free throw attempts for West Georgia second-year forward Gal-la Font, the Wolves managed to secure a small 5-3 run of their own, finishing the half 42-26.

A pump-fake and layup from Hodge-Carr began the second half. In the next four minutes, Hodge-Carr recorded two more layups and graduate guard Naelle Bernard tacked on five more points, while Jones and Ledford combined for five points of their own.

Mercille drained a corner three, before Ledford attempted one of her own and was fouled in the process. Despite the three-point play opportunity, Ledford was only able to hit two free throws, and the Ramblers remained far ahead at 56-33.

A successful trip to the line by Theordorsson kicked off a frenetic few final minutes of the third quarter between the sides. The Wolves managed to put six points past the Rambler defense, while Finney and first-year guard Alexa Kinas each recorded a layup to end the period 62-39.

West Georgia started the final period hot, putting seven on the board with a layup, 3-pointer and free throws to counter layups from Vaughn and Finney. Holliday and Jones both delivered layups to bring West Georgia just below twenty points at 66-50 before a Loyola timeout was called.

A small five-point response came from the Ramblers after the timeout, as Theodorsson made a layup, and Chivers finished an and-one opportunity.

The Wolves went on one of their largest runs of the night with seven straight as Jones and fourth-year guard Mykah Anderson had successful trips at the line while Davis sank a 3-pointer. A layup from Bernard in the following possession ended the run.

In the final three minutes, Anderson scored three points exclusively on free-throw attempts, while Finney and first-year guard Yasmyn Palmer combined for three of their own. Palmer eventually iced the game by blocking a layup and securing the Ramblers’ 2-0 start to the season — their best since the 2019-2020 season.

The Wolves’ defense was a crucial focal point of the tight margin, and a key point to work on, according to head coach Allison Guth.

“West Georgia was very intentional in their pressure,” Guth said. “So there weren’t transition buckets for us to get into a flow a little bit more on the offensive end, where we get a lot of our rack scores. We’re going to have to find a way to just be really creative and creating those opportunities to get downhill.”

The Ramblers get their next opportunity in a cross-town rivalry against DePaul University at Gentile Arena Nov. 12, a match-up recent transfer Finney said she’s excited for.

“I’m so excited,” Finney said. “This is honestly one of the games I’ve been most looking forward to since being here. I know our whole team is excited and I think it’s gonna be a good one.”