Senior Day Photo Gallery
UNO-UVU Box Score
Post-Game with Head Coach Carter
NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans women's basketball program posted its second win in three games, defeating Utah Valley 55-51 on Thursday night at Lakefront Arena.
It was not easy for UNO (3-19) which led by as many as 13 points with 13:44 remaining until halftime. The Lady Privateers had to overcome a 29.6 percent performance in the second half as UVU (10-14) rallied to tie the game at 51 with 2:55 left in the contest.
As the Wolverines attacked on the offense end with a chance to move ahead late in game,
Keri Thomas came up with a crucial steal as 15 seconds remained on the clock. UVU fouled immediately allowing
Mechel'le Thomas a trip to the line.
Mechel'le made her first free throw with 13.7 seconds left with
Yasmin Taylor snagging a rebound of the errant second free throw attempt. Taylor then calmly drained both of her free throws attempts with 12 seconds left to seal the game as the Wolverines were unable to get off a clear shot in the final seconds.
UVU's efforts to get back in the contest was a result of their strong defensive effort to limit the Lady Privateers' scoring. UNO did not make a single field goal in the final 4:32 of the game and was outscored 28-23 in the final 20 minutes.
Prior to the Wolverines' efforts to create a close contest at the end, the game turned in UNO's favor during an opening half which featured a pair of runs by the hosts.
Trailing 12-10 with 12:14 remaining in the opening half, the Lady Privateers scored 10 of the next 11 points to move into the driver's seat with 20-13 edge, a run capped by a Taylor free throw with 8:21 to go.
UVU cut the deficit to four points at 20-16 before a second UNO spurt. The Lady Privateers' lead moved into double-figures for the first time behind a 9-0 run which concluded with a jumper by Mechel'le with 3:44 remaining to put UNO ahead 28-16.
The Lady Privateers would maintain their advantage and enter the break with a 32-23 lead as the Wolverines struggled to a 27.3 percent clip for the half.
For the contest, Keri was the top scorer for the Lady Privateers with 15 points while Mechel'le added 14 points.
Amber Clay and
Mathilde Fogelstrom totaled 10 rebounds apiece.
Across the court, UVU received 22 points and 19 rebounds from Sammie Jensen. No other scorer reached double-figures for the Wolverines as the remainder of the roster shot 11 of 41 for the contest.
The Lady Privateers will conclude the season with four straight road games beginning on Wednesday at 12 p.m. against UT-Arlington. Trips to Northwestern State (Feb. 23), Texas-Pan American (Feb. 27) and CSU Bakersfield (Mar. 2) follow to round out the season's schedule.
NOTES
The victory was UNO's first over an NCAA Division I opponent at home since defeating Arkansas State 70-57 on Feb. 6, 2010 at Lakefront Arena.
Prior to the game, UNO honored seniors
Mechel'le Thomas,
Keri Thomas and
Mirjam Sipos. As a special tribute to Sipos, the Hungarian national anthem was played pre-game.
