MCKENZIE, Tenn. –The No. 17 Bethel Lady Wildcats beat SSAC rival (RV) Loyola 78-68 Thursday night to move to 5-1 in league play. Bethel is 13-3 overall while the Pack dropped to 11-5 and 5-2. The loss snapped a seven game Loyola winning streak. The game was billed as the SSAC Women's Game of the Week.
It was the 13th meeting between the two programs with Bethel now holding an 8-5 advantage in the series. It was Bethel's 99th win in the building as they ran their record at Crisp to 99-14. They are 43-3 versus SSAC opponents in the building.
The Lady Wildcats led 34-27 at halftime. Behind the play of Tay Cannon and Megan Worry Loyola chipped away in the third and took their first lead at 49-48 with three and half minutes left in the quarter. Bethel bounced back and led 52-49 at the end of three. Bethel's Brandi Goodman and Myah Taylor led the Lady Cats, both hitting huge three's down the stretch. At one point Goodman scored seven unanswered points while Taylor knocked down two deep three-pointers which enabled the Wildcat to prevail over their rivals from New Orleans.
In a game which featured 46 fouls, both teams had opportunities from the foul line. Bethel hit 26-of-34 attempts while Loyola was 13-of-23 from the charity stripe. Bethel connected on eight three's while the Pack hit five from long distance. Loyola shot 39 percent from the floor hitting 25-of-63 attempts while Bethel was 22-of-57 at 38 percent.
Taylor led Bethel with a double-double scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Bethel won the battle of the boards at 39-33. They are 11-2 when they out rebound their opponents. Goodman scored 20 points. She has scored 14, 13 and 20 since her return to the lineup. She also corralled nine rebounds. Tyasia Willis came off the bench with 12 points while Tasia Jones contributed with 10 in a reserve role. Bethel's bench outscored Loyola 43-27.
Cannon led Loyola with 22 off the bench. Worry has 12 points and eight boards for the Pack.
Bethel Coach Chris Nelson was pleased with the victory. "This was another typical Bethel-Loyola game. They are well coached and very good. This is our biggest win of the season thus far. We had the lead much of the night but knew they would battle to the end. Morgan (Martin) played a little banged up and got in early foul trouble and that hurt us. She is our stable force and gives us so many things out on the court. Brandi and Myah came up big and were difference makers as you expect them to be.
The Lady Wildcats remain at home playing host to conference foe William Carey Saturday at 2 p.m.
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