Ramblers maintain lead against West Georgia, winning 76-60

The Loyola women’s basketball team denied a late resurgence in their 76-60 win over the University of West Georgia on Nov. 9. Fourth-year guard Jess Finney led the way 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 for the Ramblers, whose first possession ended with a West Georgia steal in the paint. Finney nailed a three-point shot moments later to put the Ramblers on the board first.

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

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

After the timeout, Theodorsson hit a 3-pointer, but was met by one of the Wolves’ third-year guard, Becca Ledford. Sophomore guard Rosalie Mercille continued to contribute to the Ramblers’ early offense 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. Freshman forward Brooklyn Vaughn stepped up with four points and a successful trip from Finney, while Holliday and fourth-year Zuriyah Davis kept the Wolves afloat at 28-12.

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

Holliday finished another layup after a Rambler turnover to go another minute without scoring, before ending it herself with a single free throw. Over the next minute and a half, the Ramblers went on a 9-2 run, with Finney, Theodorsson and Chivers scoring three points each.

After an extended scrum in the Loyola paint ended with failed free throw attempts for West Georgia sophomore forward Gal-la Font, the Wolves managed to secure a narrow 5-3 run of their own, closing the half up 42-26 .

A pump fake and layup by Hodge-Carr started the second half. Over the next four minutes, Hodge-Carr recorded two more layups and graduate guard Naelle Bernard scored another five points, while Jones and Ledford combined for five points of their own.

Mercille cleared a corner three, before Ledford attempted one himself and was fouled. Despite the three-point play opportunity, Ledford was only able to hit two free throws, and the Ramblers remained well ahead at 56-33.

A successful trip to the line from Theordorsson kicked off some frantic final minutes of the third quarter between the teams. The Wolves managed to get six points past the Rambler defense as Finney and freshman guard Alexa Kinas each recorded a layup to end the period up 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 under 20 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 chance.

The Wolves made one of their biggest 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 three-pointer. A Bernard layup on the next possession ended the run.

In the final three minutes, Anderson scored three points exclusively on free throw attempts, while Finney and freshman guard Yasmyn Palmer combined for three points. Palmer ultimately put the game to rest by blocking a layup and securing the Ramblers’ 2-0 start to the season – their best since the 2019-20 season.

According to head coach Allison Guth, the Wolves’ defense was a crucial focal point of the tight margin, and an important area to work on.

“West Georgia was very deliberate in their pressure,” Guth said. “So there were no transition opportunities for us to get into the flow a little more on the attacking side, where we get a lot of our rack scores. We’re going to have to find a way to just be really creative and create those opportunities to go downhill.”

The Ramblers will get their next opportunity in an inter-city rivalry against DePaul University at Gentile Arena on Nov. 12, a recent transfer that Finney said he is excited about.

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