NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans women's basketball won the turnover count, but could not find a way to claim victory on the scoreboard, falling 60-50 to Auburn-Montgomery on Thursday night at the Human Performance Center.
It was the second straight game that UNO (0-12) had fewer turnovers than its opponent as AUM (7-7) totaled 22 for the game after having nine at the break. The Senators' took advantage of the Lady Privateers' season-low 15 miscues, outscoring the hosts 17-15 in the points off turnovers count.
Mirjam Sipos and
Dinnelle Cormier had 15 points apiece for UNO. The Lady Privateers' second half success continued in the contest as the team shot 46.2 percent over the last 20 minutes compared to 30 percent in the opening half.
Rachel Cunningham led AUM with 15 points on 7 of 10 shooting from the field to tie for game-high scoring honors. Courtney Thacker added 12 points with Stephanie Torrence right behind with 11 points.
AUM scored the first six points of the contest and would shoot 8 of 11 from the field to start the game to take a 16-8 lead. Cunningham had six of the Senators' 16 points, connecting on her first five attempts from the field.
UNO would trail AUM 30-17 after the visitors made three consecutive shots from beyond the arc after not connecting on their first eight efforts from distance. The Senators would carry a 39-22 advantage into the break, taking advantage of 48.4 percent shooting from the field.
The turnover bug bit AUM in the second half as the Senators frustrated third-year head coach Dan Davis with 13 turnovers over the last 20 minutes, leading to 14 points off of turnovers on the board for the Lady Privateers in the second half.
UNO trailed by as many as 21 points, cutting the deficit down to eight at 58-50. Sipos scored five consecutive points and eight total for the Lady Privateers during the team's 13-2 run in the game's final minutes.
UNO will begin the 2011 portion of the schedule on Jan. 4 at Belhaven. The contest is the first of three over a five-day period for the Lady Privateers, who will return home to host Dallas Christian on Jan. 6 before heading Uptown to face Loyola (N.O.) on Jan. 8.
