NEW ORLEANS - Stillman College women's basketball was looking to knock off a Top 25 Loyola University team on the road for the second-straight year, but a second-half surge by the Wolfpack gave No. 9 Loyola a 72-48 victory.
The Tigers were looking to repeat what they did in January 2022, when they beat then No. 24 Loyola, 53-51. Stillman played the Wolfpack close in the first half, trailing by two points, 14-12, entering the second quarter. The Wolfpack were held to 26.7% shooting in the first 10 minutes.
Farrah Pearson worked the game even, 17-17, a little over a minute into the second quarter.
Amaria Strong later tied it again at 19, assisted by Pearson. With 5:22 left in the half,
Kelcie Smith hit a 3 to give Stillman its first lead, 22-21. That score held for nearly two minutes before Loyola regained the lead on a Sandra Cannady jumper that sparked a 9-1 run to give Loyola a 30-23 halftime lead.
Loyola (16-0, 9-0 SSAC) pulled away in the second half, out-scoring the Tigers by 17 points in the final 20 minutes, 42-25. The closest margin was five points multiple times in the third quarter, including 36-31 with 4:15 to play. The Wolfpack shot 80% over the final four minutes of the quarter to lead 51-35 entering the fourth quarter. Loyola's strong shooting continued in the final 10 minutes, hitting 50% from the floor and 2-of-2 at the line.
For the game, Stillman shot 40% against Loyola, which ranks No. 7 in the NAIA in shooting defense, normally holding teams below 34%. The Wolfpack shot 39.3%. The Tigers held the Wolfpack 14 points below their scoring average.
Strong led Stillman with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Pearson scored 12 and grabbed seven rebounds. She also had three assists.
Jordine Moody had four dimes.
All nine Tigers who saw action also scored.
Loyola had four players score in double figures, led by Kennedy Hansberry's 16 points and seven assists. Sandra Cannady followed with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Tay Cannon scored 12 points and also had eight boards. Jazmene McMillan had 10 points and seven rebounds.
The game closed the first half Southern States Athletic Conference schedule with Loyola atop the standings. Faulkner University (7-2) sits in second, while Brewton-Parker College, William Carey University and University of Mobile are tied for third at 5-4. Stillman (4-4) sits in sixth with 10 games to play since its November game at Talladega was postponed to Feb. 11. Life University (4-5) is seventh, followed by Middle Georgia State University (2-6), Blue Mountain Christian (2-7) and Talladega (0-7).
Stillman (12-5, 5-4 SSAC) will return home to host William Carey University on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 5:30 p.m. It will be Stillman College Faculty & Staff Recognition Night and Student Organizations Night. A special $5 student rate will be provided for any middle school, high school and college students (with college ID). Children 12-under are free.
