NEW ORLEANS, LA –The Bethel Lady Wildcats could not overcome a poor shooting day at Loyola and fell to the Lady Wolf Pack 56-53. The Lady Cats hit just 13-of-59 shots for a season low 22 percent. Bethel hit 21-of-21 free throws however which kept them in the game until the very end.
Bethel trailed 27-24 at halftime and fell behind in the third quarter by as many as 16 at 42-26 with 3:41 left in the stanza. Behind three three-pointers by senior Mariah McKenty and a three by fellow senior Cayla Sheets in the fourth quarter the Lady Wildcats stormed back into the game. A basket and made free throw by Brandi Goodman pulled Bethel to within 53-50 with seconds left. Loyola would hang on after a last second three-point attempt by Bethel's Jasmine Whittemore fell off the rim.
Loyola was 21-of-57 from the field at 36 percent. They out rebounded Bethel 44-42. It marked just the seventh time on the season Bethel has lost the battle of the boards. They are 1-6 in those games. Both teams had 14 turnovers in the contest.
Goodman led Bethel with a game high 16 points. McKenty finished with nine on the day. Morgan Martin had eight points. Abbey Dew followed with seven tallies. Di'Mond Jackson led the Pack with 12 points. Zoie Miller had 11 points.
The Lady Wildcats fell to 20 -8 overall and 16 -2 in the Southern States Athletic Conference. The loss snapped Bethel's ten game winning streak. The Pack moved to 22-5 and 14-3. Bethel had won 50 of their last 53 SSAC regular season contests until the loss.
Coach Chris Nelson commented on the loss. "I am proud of our effort and the fact we never caved in even after they took a big lead. In the third quarter we had open shots but really struggled from the field. In the end that cost us but again I am pleased with our fight. We still control our own destiny with two regular season games left and a good opportunity to win the regular season title. Mobile is playing some great basketball right now so we will have to play well Monday night."
Bethel remains on the road for the third straight game traveling to Mobile to battle the Lady Rams Monday at 5:30 p.m. The game will be aired on WEIO, 100.9 and at www.thefarmradio.com. The Countdown to Tip-off Show begins at 5 p.m. Dave McCulley and Zach O'Kelley will call the action.
