Box Score
JACKSON, Miss- The Belhaven women's basketball team picked up another Southern State Athletic Conference victory against Loyola University Saturday afternoon 76-70. Ranked 18th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, the Blazers maintain their SSAC West Division lead, and add a sixteenth win to the overall record.

Both defenses started the afternoon in control, keeping the game scoreless until the 17:34 mark of the first half. The Blazers offense, with the help of junior Sarah Carr, broke the ice with a triple to make it a 3-0 lead. The Wolfpack responded 40 seconds later with a pair of free throw by Keiva Council, trimming the lead to 3-2. Loyola pulled even at 7-7 with 14:54 to play in the first half and then Belhaven senior Kiara Johnson's jump shot sent the Blazers back in front 9-7 a few seconds later. Belhaven would maintain at least a two point lead the rest of the half.

Senior guard Regena Jackson, gave Belhaven its biggest edge of the half when she knocked down a triple to make it a 29-20 game with just over five minutes to go until the break. Jasmine Brewer, a key player for the Wolfpack, slowed down the Belhaven offensive attack with seven rebounds which helped the Wolfpack close the deficit at half. Loyola's offense generated a 9-4 run, capped by a Janeicia Neely layup, reducing Belhaven's lead to 37-33 when the buzzer sounded.

Amy Moody, a guard for the Wolfpack scored nine points to start the second half helping Loyola regain the upper hand with just under 17 minutes to play. Loyola held the advantaged until 5:22 to play in the second half. Belhaven's offense got back on track when Portia Tucker scored two of her 18 points, knotting the game at 62-62. Johnson then pushed the Blazers ahead for good with 2:52 to go on a breakaway layup which made the score 67-66. The Blazers outscored Loyola 14-8 over the final five minutes enabling the 76-70 win.

"I give Loyola a lot of credit tonight for playing us really tough,” said Belhaven Head Coach Billy Evans. “They shoot the ball really well and we were able to force them to do some things they weren't used to doing. We played better than we have all year in the turnover department, committing only four turnovers while forcing 17. We had nine steals and if we can do that all season we will be successful the rest of the way."

“Regena (Jackson) stepped up to the challenge of competing with the leading scorer in the nation in Kevia Council,” added Evans. Jessica Barlow played big for us as well coming off the bench tonight with eight points and 10 rebounds.”

Belhaven (16-5, 9-1 SSAC) was led by senior Regena Jackson with a game and season high 31 points. Senior Portia Tucker followed with 18 points and senior Jessica Barlow pulled down a game high 10 rebounds. Sophomore Ericka Leflore wasn't far behind Barlow handling nine boards in the game. Jackson also led the Blazers with six assists and Johnson came up with four steals and seven points. Belhaven had 21 points off turnovers and 17 second chance points in the game thanks to 17 offensive rebounds. Belhaven hit 35.6 percent of its field goals (26-73).

Loyola (15-2, 7-2 SSAC) was led by Keiva Council with 19 points. She was the nation's leading scorer coming into the game averaging 24 per contest. Megen Berner had 16 points off the bench and Jasmine Brewer ended the afternoon with 15. The Wolfpack knocked down 50.9 percent of their field goals (27-53) and had a slight rebounding edge at 42-42, but hurt themselves with 17 turnovers.

Belhaven will be back in action on Thursday night when they head to Faulkner University for another SSAC contest slated to begin at 5:30 PM.