HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The William Carey Women's Basketball Team opened 2025 with a thrilling 62-59 victory over Loyola University Saturday afternoon at Clinton Gym.
 
"I thought both teams played their hearts out today," said Head Coach Tracy English. "It was a game of runs, and we were able to hold them in the end.
 
Carey got off to a slow start, allowing almost three minutes to pass before a Kolten Blakeney jumper sparked a 13-0 run. After back-to-back baskets by Leah Sutton put the Lady Crusaders in front 7-5. Baskets by Shaneal Corpuz, Blakeney, and Addyson Sherer capped the run, giving Carey an eight-point lead with three minutes remaining in the quarter.
 
Over the final minutes of the first quarter the WCU defense continued their strong play holding the Wolfpack to just one field goal with Sherer draining a three pointer as time expired to put the Lady Crusaders ahead 18-7. For the quarter, the WCU defense held Loyola to just 23% shooting from the floor while forcing seven turnovers.
 
Again, Carey went cold offensively to start the second quarter before a Daydria Cuevas jumper broke the drought with six minutes to play. Over that four-minute span though the Lady Crusader defense held LU to just a pair of free throws to keep the lead at eleven.
 
From there Rose Warren and Corpuz stretched the Carey lead to 28-12 with under three minutes remaining but the Wolfpack closed the quarter on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to ten points at the break.
 
WCU got off to a much better start coming out of the break, as Blakeney opened the scoring with a jumper one minute into the third quarter. However, the Wolfpack offense picked up their attack, cutting the deficit to five on multiple occasions before tying the game at 34 with just over three minutes to play.
 
The Lady Crusaders halted the run, and over the next minute made it a six-point advantage on baskets by Blakeney, Corpuz, and Madelyn Ladner. Over the final minutes of the quarter both teams traded shots with Carey closing the quarter with baskets by Ladner and Warren to take a 44-36 lead.
 
A 4-1 run by Loyola opened things in the fourth quarter but the Lady Crusaders again answered with an 8-0 run to make it 53-40. Alissa O'Dell stopped the run for Loyola with five straight points midway through the quarter. From there, the Wolfpack offense chipped away at the WCU lead, cutting the deficit to 58-56 with under a minute remaining.
 
After a potentially game tying jumper by Loyola missed it's mark with eleven seconds left, Blakeney converted a pair of free throws with Warren picking up a crucial steal on the Wolfpack's next possession to seal the victory.
 
Kolten Blakeney led the offense with 16 points and seven rebounds. Rose Warren added 13 points while Shaneal Corpuz added 11 points and 13 rebounds.
 
Carey is back in action Thursday, January 9, as they head to West Point, Ga. to take on Point University in SSAC action. Play is set to begin at 4:30 pm.