MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner reached rarified air Saturday, winning its first conference title in the 13-year history of the women's basketball program. Doing so required snapping a six-game losing streak against Loyola, the team that entered Saturday night having won eight consecutive SSAC tournament games as it sought its third straight title.
Faulkner executed its offense masterfully over the first three quarters of the game, building enough of a lead to survive a dreadful shooting period in the fourth on the way to a 67-55 victory and the right to cut down nets for the first time.
The Lady Eagles made 50 percent of their shots in the first, 35.3 percent in the second and 53.3 percent in the third to carry a 58-43 lead into the fourth quarter. From there, Loyola ratcheted up the pressure defensively to limit Faulkner to just 9.1 percent from the floor with an
Angela Grant make accounting for the only field goal of the frame. Faulkner did enough at the free throw line to hang on, knocking down seven of 16 attempts to end the game.
The Lady Eagles asserted themselves early and often throughout the contest, trailing for less than four minutes and never by more than four points. A Jazmene McMillan layup with 7:17 left in the first quarter put Loyola up 8-4. From there, Faulkner launched a 10-0 run to vault itself into the lead. A Grant layup and a
Morgan Holland jumper tied the game with 5:48 remaining in the period. A layup by
Nequoia Adams and two more by Holland put Faulkner ahead 14-8.
Adams drained a three at the 2:48 mark of the first that started an 18-4 Faulkner run that moved the advantage to 34-17.
Leaving the locker room with a 14-point lead, the Lady Eagles got right back to work. Holland knocked down a three just nine seconds into the third quarter. A layup from Grant and another from Adams stretched the lead all the way to 21. The Wolf Pack responded with a 13-3 run of their own to get back in the game, cutting the deficit to 48-37 by the 4:07 mark of the third.
Faulkner opened the final quarter with a 15-point lead as Loyola amped up its defensive intensity. The Wolf Pack cut the deficit to nine with 3:36 to play but could draw no closer.
Faulkner shot 39.7 percent from the floor in the game while Loyola made 32.9 percent of its attempts. The Lady Eagles won the rebounding battle 50-45 while taking points in the paint 30-28.
Adams topped all scorers with 22 points. Holland added 17 points and 15 rebounds to go along with four assists. Grant finished with 16 points and 14 boards to go along with three blocks.
Faulkner (25-6) awaits information on its next game, which will be played March 7 in the NAIA National Tournament at a yet-to-be-revealed First & Second Round site. The occasion marks the first time since 2018 the Lady Eagles have qualified for the national bracket.
