NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers got 27 points from
Lauren Banks and
Aaliyah Ellis but it wasn't enough to overcome the NAIA nationally ranked Loyola Wolfpack as they lost 73-65 on Wednesday night in the home opener at Lakefront Arena.
The privateers started out hot by connecting on nine of their first 15 shots including a streak of five consecutive field goals in the back half of the opening stanza.
Lauren Banks had four points in that stretch as the Privateers built a 21-14 lead.
Loyola responded by going on an 8-0 run from the final 1:53 of the first quarter to the 8:53 mark of the second quarter, which gave the Wolfpack a one-point advantage. From there, the Wolfpack remained ahead into the halftime locker room. Loyola shot 42.9 percent from the field and had a 17-1 advantage in free throw attempts.
The Privateers cut the Wolfpack deficit to one at the 5:06 mark of the third quarter on an Ellis layup. That was as close as the Privateers got as the Wolfpack used the remainder of the quarter to gradually stretch out to a 10-point lead when they headed to the fourth.
Loyola continued their push early in the fourth quarter as they grew their lead to as much as 15 points with 3:14 left. The Privateers' press started to create more turnovers down the stretch, but it wound up being too much ground for the home side to make up. Ellis made a pull-up jumper to cut the lead to 71-63 but the Privateers could not draw any closer in the final minute.
Deniya Thornton finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds while adding three steals. Alissa O'Dell finished with 19 points and eight rebounds. Tiarra McPipe finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Loyola shot 41 free throws on the game to the Privateers' eight.
INSIDE THE BOX
Banks finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.
Shanihya Brown had nine points, six assists and six steals. Ellis finished with 13 points and three steals.
Mikayla Johnson added nine points and five rebounds.
NEXT UP
The Privateers will host Jacksonville State on Saturday with tip scheduled for 2 p.m.
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