HATTIESBURG, Miss. - For the first time this season, the University
of New Orleans women's basketball team put together a strong first half
effort in a 85-37 setback to Southern Mississippi on Sunday afternoon.
Rachel Vigers scored 29 points to help USM (2-1) bounce back from a loss
against South Alabama in their previous outing. Tandrea High and Niesha
Pierce also netted double-figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
UNO dropped to 0-4 on the year, led by Mirjam Sipos and Kiedra Brocks,
who scored 10 points apiece for the Lady Privateers. Britney Blanchard
added eight points with Brocks and Spring Drake tying for the team-high
with four rebounds.
Vigers scored 23 points in the first half as USM took a 41-19 lead into the break.
A team that has come out slow in their first three outings in the
opening half put together their best first half of the season, a goal of
head coach Amy Champion's heading into the contest.
The young
Lady Privateers lowered their turnover count to 11 in the opening half,
the third straight game it has improved. In addition, the squad scored
19 first half points, four more than the team-high of 15 that they
achieved in two previous contests.
The second half featured an effort comparable to that of the first half,
signs that the Lady Privateers are nearing putting a strong 40 minutes
together, despite being over-matched by the full scholarship Division I
competition.
UNO scored 18 points in the second half with 12 turnovers, one less
point than their first 20 minutes, while posting an additional turnover.
Brocks scored eight points and grabbed three rebounds off the bench
during the second half.
The Lady Privateers will play another contest in Mississippi on Tuesday
at 5:30 p.m. when they visit Mississippi College. The game against the
Choctaws will be the first for the squad against non-Division I
competition as UNO nears the end of a tough season-opening stretch that
included 5 of 6 against Division I foes.
