UNO-NSU Box Score
NEW ORLEANS – Northwestern State was able to overcome a poor shooting second half to defeat New Orleans 53-52 on Friday night at Lakefront Arena.
NSU (1-0) was held to a 29 percent clip over the final 20 minutes and a 31.7 shooting percentage for the contest. The Lady Demons forced 22 UNO (0-1) turnovers and maintained a 44-36 edge on the glass.
NSU was led by Markeisha Johnson and Jasmine Bradley with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Jasmine Upchurch and Arianne Ausmer shared game-high rebounding honors with nine apiece.
The Lady Privateers shot 41.7 for the contest, including a blistering 52.2 percent clip in the second half.
Mechel'le Thomas was the leading scorer with 13 points with fellow guard
Keri Thomas adding an additional 11.
The second half shooting surge for UNO was highlighted by a 15-2 run that negated a nine-point deficit in the half's first six minutes.
Mechel'le hit three straight long-range shots during the spurt which included a
Melissa Jensen jumper with 14:40 left in the game providing UNO a 36-34 edge, their first lead since the 8:00 mark of the first half.
The Lady Privateers' lead never exceeded five points with NSU going ahead for good on an Upchurch jumper with 7:10 left in the contest. The Lady Demons' lead down the stretch grew to six with 2:43 to go before UNO rallied and nearly won the game on an errant shot attempt from Keri.
The game's opening half featured a total of seven ties before NSU was the first to gain a significant advantage.
The Lady Demons broke a deadlock at 17 with five straight points to take a 22-17 lead with 6:27 to go in the opening half. UNO reached within three points on a three-pointer by Keri with3:15.
The leading scorer on the floor at the half with nine points, Keri and the Lady Privateers entered the break trailing 30-23.
The Lady Privateers will continue their homestand on Tuesday, Nov. 13 against Nicholls State. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.
