Loyola Women’s Basketball beats Martin Methodist in SSAC title game

Senior guard Zoie Miller scores 27 points, as the Wolf Pack claim their third title in four years

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – In the 2018 Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Women’s Basketball Tournament final, the No. 25 Loyola University New Orleans women’s basketball team defeated No. 21 Martin Methodist today 66-53 to claim the conference crown at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl.

“They have just been dialed in this entire tournament,” said head coach Kellie Kennedy. “That’s one thing we talked about after our regular season ended, that defense was going to be key. I just feel like they have executed the game plan to a “T” on the defensive-end of the floor every time out.”

Recently named the conference’s player of the year, Zoie Miller got the Wolf Pack (25-5, 13-2) going with a three to start the game. Fellow senior Di’Mond Jackson later converted a layup as she was fouled, and hit the ensuing free throw to take a quick 6-0 lead. Martin Methodist (26-7, 14-2) got their first two points of the game to get on the board, before fouling Jackson to send her to the line where she would connect on both shots to make it 8-2.

The RedHawks fought back however, going on a 9-0 run to take a one point lead before Miller, the SSAC Tournament MVP, sunk a free throw to tie the game at 11. After Martin Methodist made a layup with the quarter winding down, Miller was sent to the line yet again with three seconds remaining, converting on one of two to bring the score to 13-12 in favor of the RedHawks heading into the second quarter.

Martin Methodist came out with two quick scores before Miller got Loyola back on track with a corner three. After the RedHawks added three more to go up five, Breyah Richardson was fouled, hitting one of two free throws before Jackson later scored to begin a 14-2 run for Loyola. Jackson would find An’Jolique Woodson down low for the score, before Richardson hit two free throws. Another three by Miller followed by fast-break layups from both Richardson and Miller would set the score at 29-22.

The RedHawks closed out the half with three unanswered scores however, setting the game even at 29-all heading into the break.

Two consecutive buckets from Martin Methodist coming out of halftime gave the RedHawks back the lead 33-29. The Pack fought right back however, with Miller hitting another three from the corner, followed by a bucket from Megan Worry. A jumper by Martin Methodist gave them a one point advantage before Kaila Anthony was sent to the line, hitting one to bring the score even at 35 each with just over five minutes left in the third.

Richardson would come up with yet another clutch play, responding to a RedHawk score, stealing an inbound pass and running the distance to tie it at 37. With just under three minutes left in the quarter, Miller and Richardson each scored on layups, followed by a free throw for Martin Methodist and eventual score from Anthony to put the Wolf Pack up five. After a technical foul call on the Redhawks, Miller would hit two free throws to cap off a 10-1 run, giving Loyola a 45-39 lead heading into the final quarter.

“We mixed it up a little bit on Martin Methodist in that third quarter,” said Kennedy. “I think it affected them. It was something we hadn’t really prepared a ton with, but they executed incredibly well on the defensive end.”

While Martin Methodist would score first, Miller connected on her fifth three-pointer of the game, with Worry following suit to put the Pack up 10. The RedHawks fought back with a three of their own to attempt a rally, but on the following Loyola possession, Miller would sneak free for an open look at the top of the arc, connecting on her sixth three of the evening. Yet another make from deep by Martin Methodist would set the board at 54-47 in favor of Loyola with just over four minutes left to play.

A great score by Kamille Cooper on a Miller inbound pass gave the Wolf Pack a nine-point advantage, before Anthony hit a dagger of a three to push it to 12. The RedHawks brought the game back within eight 59-51, but the Loyola offense was too much for them to handle, as Anthony would score with just over a minute left to force Martin Methodist to foul and stop the clock.

The Wolf Pack would hold on to their lead, winning by a score of 66-53 to claim their third SSAC Conference Championship in the past four years, and punch their ticket to the NAIA National Tournament with an automatic bid.

“The key was to work together and move the ball,” said Miller. “We have a lot of talent, we have a lot of individual players, but we work best when we’re working together, moving the ball, and finding the best shot. That’s what led us to this victory tonight.”

The senior Miller led the charge for the Pack this evening, scoring 27 points behind six three-point shots. Richardson added a career-high 13 today, with Anthony scoring 10 to go with seven rebounds.

At the conclusion of the game, both Jackson and Miller were named to the All-Tournament Team, with Miller earning MVP honors.

Jemia Carpenter led the RedHawks in scoring tonight with 21, 18 of which came in the first half.

Loyola will now turn their attention to the 2018 NAIA National Tournament, which is set to begin March 14th in Billings, Mont.

You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.

All-Tournament Team

Jasmine Whittemore, Bethel (Tenn.)

Nicole Shirley, Faulkner (Ala.)

Erin Freeman, Martin Methodist (Tenn.)

Mickey Head, Martin Methodist (Tenn.)

Di’Mond Jackson, Loyola (La.)

Zoie Miller, Loyola (La.)*

* Denotes 2018 SSAC Women’s Basketball Championship MVP