Todd Ryals

Thunder Roll Past Wildcats

11/18/2017 5:39:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

Box Score

A strong defensive effort by the Wheaton College Thunder that included 13 blocked shots, gave the Louisiana College Lady Wildcats their first loss of the season on Saturday afternoon, 89-56. LC shot 34.5% from the floor in the game and went 1-for-13 from beyond the arc. The Wildcats return to action next Saturday as they play a pair of games in Jackson, Miss. against Huntingdon College and Millsaps College.

From the opening moments of the game, the Wheaton offense was running on all cylinders, hitting a three points shot 16 seconds into the game for the first points. The Wildcats held the lead twice in the early going on after a layup from Taylor Payne and another from Brooke Jones putting LC up 6-5. Another three-ball just second later by the Thunder put them back on top and they would not look back. A 9-2 run later in the quarter gave them some breathing room and although the Wildcats worked their way back to within five by the end of the quarter it was clear that Wheaton was there to play.

Wheaton maintained their cushion through the second quarter, with the Wildcats not able to gain enough ground on a consistent basis. A Wildcat run was immediately answered by the Thunder as they continued their impressive shooting afternoon. Their ability to knock down the outside shots as well as the presence under the basket from a pair of 6-2 forwards made life difficult for the Wildcats.

LC was down double digits at the half and Wheaton continued to apply pressure in the second half, pushing their lead to 64-42 by the end of the third quarter. The Wildcats could not find their way through the trees under the basket during the game, doing their best to shot over the top of the long arms of the Thunder defense. Thirteen blocked shots and 43 rebounds, 29 on the defensive glass, prevented LC from getting a rhythm or second chance opportunities.

The Wildcats shot just 34.5% from the floor in the game in including just one made three-pointer, that did not come until the midway point of the third quarter. Seniors Brooke Jones and Kourtney McGhee were still able to have solid performances, scoring over 63% of the teams total points in the game. Jones finished with 20 points and five rebounds, while McGhee ended with 15 points and four rebounds.

The Wildcats make the return trip to Pineville for Thanksgiving break, before heading East to Jackson, Miss. for a pair of games against Huntingdon and Millsaps next weekend. Their next home game is November 30 as the open American Southwest Conference play at Rapides Coliseum against McMurry Universtiy. For the latest on Louisiana College women's basketball follow @LC_WBB on Twitter. For general athletics news follow @LC_Wildcats on Twitter or like Louisiana College Athletics on Facebook.

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