UNO-AUM Box Score
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Leading by three with 5:33 remaining on the clock, the University of New Orleans was nearing their first victory before Auburn-Montgomery ran off the final 15 points of the contest on way to a 63-51 victory late Friday night in a neutral site game at Huntingdon.
The contest represented the fourth time in the last six games in which UNO (0-13) was either tied or held a lead late in the game.
Against AUM (6-6), the Lady Privateers led 51-48 with 5:33 left in the contest before the Lady Senators responded with a 15-0 run to deny UNO its first win of the season.
A
Mirjam Sipos jumper provided the final points for the Lady Privateers, who were held without a field goal after expanding their lead to three.
UNO shot 0 of 5 from the field as AUM turned a 3-point deficit into the final score, a 12-point advantage.
The Lady Senators shot 15 of 25 from the field in the game's second half to provide the spark needed and put together a vastly different result from its first half effort.
In the opening half, UNO held AUM to 7 of 28 shooting from the field.
The poor shooting by the Lady Senators proved to be the difference, particularly in the final 5:01 of the first half as they were held without a field goal. During the period of time, UNO outscored AUM 8-2 in order to take a 27-23 lead into the half.
AUM responded to open the second half, ending their drought by scoring 12 straight points to take a 35-27 lead. The Lady Senators' lead grew to 10 points at 41-31 with 11:50 left.
At that point, the momentum swung once more with UNO taking their turn for the last time.
The Lady Privateers erased the deficit and tied the game at 48 on a Sipos jumper at the 5:56 mark. Sipos added three more points less than 30 seconds later to cap an 18-point performance and UNO's scoring for the night.
Joining Sipos in leading the Lady Privateer offense was
Keri Thomas, who scored a career-high 20 points on 7 of 12 shooting. The junior had reached double-figures twice previously including her previous best of 16 at Arkansas-Monticello.
AUM was led by LaKenya Drayton and Marren Schwartz, who each posted double-doubles.
Drayton scored a team-high 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Lady Senators while Schwartz grabbed 17 rebounds to go with her 11 points. Courtney Thacker and Keisha Moore added 16 and 10 points, respectively.
The Lady Privateers will begin the 2012 portion of the slate at Loyola on Jan. 2 with a 2 p.m. tip before heading to Southeastern Louisiana on Jan. 4 for a 7 p.m. contest. UNO's first home contest for 2012 will occur on Jan. 7 against Lindenwood.
