NEW ORLEANS - Loyola overcame the best offensive performance of the season by University of New Orleans on Saturday to pick up a 76-48 victory at Lakefront Arena.
Sophomore Mirjam Sipos scored 13 points for UNO (0-8) while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds in the loss. The Lady Privateers scored a season-high 48 points while also posting season-highs in shooting percentage (29 percent) and first half points (24).
Junior Dinnelle Cormier made the most of her UNO debut, by adding 11 points to the home team's count. Cormier was appearance was the first locally for the junior college transfer since her high school career concluded at McDonough 35.
Keiva Council led Loyola (8-3) with a game-high 20 points. Amy Sprout netted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Wolfpack scored the first four points of the game before Sipos responded with a three-pointer.
Loyola would remain in control thanks to Council, who would score eight of the Wolfpack's first 15 points. Council's output was part of a 13-0 run that saw the visitors turn an 8-7 advantage into a 21-7 edge.
UNO scored 12 of the next 16 points capped by a Kendracia Valmont three-pointer to get within six of Loyola at 25-19 with 6:44 remaining in the opening half. The Wolfpack carried a 39-24 lead into the break after ending the first half on a high note, outscoring the Lady Privateers 14-5 after the Valmont three-pointer.
Sipos came to life in the second half for UNO, scoring 10 points in the last 20 minutes of the game, after being held off the scoreboard following her early three-pointer.
Cormier added six after the break as UNO held Loyola's Council to just six points in the second half. The defensive effort on Council was part of a 36.8 percent effort for the Wolfpack, a drop from their 46.4 percent start in the opening half.
Next up for the Lady Privateers is a pair of games in Texas, visiting LeTourneau on Dec. 15 and Texas Wesleyan on Dec. 16.
