NEW ORLEANS, La. – The University of Tennessee Southern women's basketball led 24-23 at the break against #16 Loyola, but the Wolfpack scored 58 second half points to defeat the Firehawks 81-52 on Saturday. Kassidy Broussard and Faith Eubank each reached double figures, scoring 12 and 10 respectively.

In the opening stanza, UT Southern (7-17, 4-13) outshot the home squad 40 to 31 percent. Broussard led UTS with six points as both teams would be tied at 14 after one.

Halle Jones and Eubank would lead the Firehawks with four points each. UTS led 24-23 at the break.

In the third quarter, UT Southern continued to hang close to #16 Loyola (20-3, 14-2). LU began to pull away cashing in on 12 of 14 free shots in the period. UTS trailed 48-39 heading to the fourth.

Loyola would outshoot the Firehawks 52 to 28 percent to take the home win. LU led in rebounds 47-36.

SSAC CHAMPIONSHIP

The Southern States Athletic Conference Championship will take place beginning a pair of play-in games on Wednesday, February 28, in Montgomery, Ala. The top six seeds will earn a berth into the quarterfinal round. Seeds seven through 10 will battle for the final two quarterfinal spots.

Currently the Firehawks are tied for the 10^th seed with Blue Mountain Christian.

NEXT UP

UT Southern will close out the regular season on the road in Blue Mountain, Miss. The Firehawks will square off with the Toppers on Saturday, February 24 at noon. UTS defeated Blue Mountain Christian in December 77-50.

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