MOBILE, Ala. - Unlike their last trip to the state of Alabama, the
University of New Orleans could not rally back from a double-digit
deficit, falling to South Alabama 68-60 on Saturday night at the
Mitchell Center
UNO (10-12, 5-6 SBC) would not let up after trailing by 19 with 15:48 remaining in the contest as the team got within five of the host Lady Jaguars late in the game.
The Lady Privateers were paced by
Jada Frazier, who scored 17 points on the night.
Brittany Helm added 14 points while
Cookie Johnson contributed 11 for UNO.
Candice McGee had 12 rebounds.
Frazier and Johnson both moved up on the Lady Privateer three-pointers made list, as Frazier's five three-pointers put her in fourth all-time while Johnson moved into sixth with her three made baskets from beyond the arc.
Shakira Nettles made five three-pointers on the night for USA (15-7, 6-5 Sun Belt) to pace the Lady Jaguars with 23 points. Ra'Shawna Sippio netted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
The three-point shooting duo of Frazier and Johnson got hot in the second half as the Lady Privateers rallied. The two combined for five three-pointers over the first 16:06 in the second half as UNO went from 19 points down to within five points with 3:54 remaining in the contest.
The five points were as close as the Lady Privateers would get as USA took advantage of free throw shooting down the stretch to win the contest.
McGee provided support as UNO made their way back into the contest, connecting on consecutive baskets for the team as they got within six with 4:25 left.
USA opened the second half on a 9-2 run that gave the Lady Jaguars a 19-point advantage with 15:48 remaining in the contest. The Lady Privateers would not bring the lead into single digits until consecutive three-pointers by Frazier and Johnson brought the score to 58-49.
Using 50 percent shooting from the field over the first 20 minutes to just 30 percent for UNO, the Lady Jaguars were able to take a 36-24 lead into the halftime break.
The Lady Privateers went without a made basket from the field for nearly six minutes, missing on seven attempts during the span as USA extended their lead to 12 points before Frazier buried her third three-pointer of the opening half to stop the skid.
Prior to the shooting woes, UNO had made three straight attempts to cut a nine-point Lady Jaguars lead down to five points.
USA was able to build up an advantage after scoring 13 of 18 points during a run that turned a brief UNO lead at 5-4 into a 17-10 edge for the Lady Jaguars.
The Lady Privateers will play their next three contests at home beginning with a Wednesday night conference tilt against Florida Atlantic at 7 p.m.
