JACKSON, Miss. - The University of New Orleans women's basketball team will make the short trip up the road to Rugg Arena in Jackson, Miss. to face Belhaven at 6 p.m. on Tuesday night.
The encounter is the second on the year between UNO (0-12) and Belhaven (9-4), who met on Dec. 1 at Lakefront Arena.
The Blazers won the previous game by a 66-32 decision, despite the Lady Privateers' strong defensive effort. In the contest, UNO held the visitors to a 35.6 percent outing from the field while keeping Belhaven's leading scorer Sarah Carr to four points and a 1 of 5 performance from the field.
The offense has come alive for the Lady Privateers over the last four games, as the team has scored at least 50 points in each contest. Prior to scoring 63 against LeTourneau at the start of the current four-game run, the team had failed to break the mark.
Dinnelle Cormier is averaging 13.8 points and 6.3 rebounds over the last four contests as UNO is averaging 57 points per game as a team. The 57 points is an increase of 14 over the season average of 43.6 points an outing.
On the season, Cormier paces the UNO offense with 13.2 points and six rebounds, followed closely by
Mirjam Sipos with 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds.
The key for the Lady Privateers is to receive a lift from a third player.
Spring Drake filled the role against Auburn-Montgomery last week with seven points, one contest after
Kendracia Valmont poured in a season-high 15 points in a contest against Louisiana-Lafayette.
The Blazers have won 3 of 4 games entering Tuesday's contest, including a pair of victories over Lyon College (Ark.) and Blue Mountain College to claim the Belhaven Classic on Dec. 30 and 31.
Newcomer Regena Jackson has averaged 12 points per game after making her debut three contests ago. Carr is the leading scorer amongst the regulars with 11.8 points per game, followed by Kiara Johnson with 11.4.
UNO's contest against Belhaven is the first of three over a five-day period. The Lady Privateers will welcome Dallas Christian on Thursday at 1 p.m. to Lakefront Arena before playing Loyola at The Den on Jan. 8 at 2 p.m.
