Game NotesNEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers women's basketball team (0-1) takes back to the court eight days after playing the season opener when they face off against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (1-1) on Saturday at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.
The Privateers opened the season on Nov. 14 with a 66-54 loss to West Alabama. In that contest, New Orleans held a four-point halftime lead, but was outscored 44-28 in the second half by the Tigers. The Privateers shot 9-of-28 from the free throw line in the defeat.
Halie Matthews led New Orleans in scoring in her collegiate debut and just missed out on a double-double. Matthews posted 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting with nine rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench.
Octavia Wilson also landed in double figures with 10 points in the season opener.
The Privateers were without the services of three players due to injury. Also, two players in
Yasmin Taylor and
BriAnna Shavers fouled out during the game. The Privateers were out-rebounded 39-26 by West Alabama in the loss.
These two teams met for the first time last season at Lakefront Arena. New Orleans nearly erased a 10-point halftime deficit that night, but Jacksonville State squeaked by with a 54-51 last year in the first season under Coach Rick Pietri.
Jacksonville State is coming off a road win versus an SEC school with a 64-62 triumph over Alabama. The Gamecocks lost the season opener at Texas Tech by eight points. Coach Pietri vaulted Jacksonville State from one win two years ago to 14 wins last season. Pietri has faced New Orleans 18 times with the previous 17 meetings coming as the head coach at former Sun Belt rival, South Alabama. Pietri is 12-6 against the Privateers.
The Gamecocks have been led by a balanced scoring effort in the opening two games of the year. Candace Morton leads the team with 26 points, Courtney Strain has scored 22, and Destany McLin follows closely behind with 20 points in the first two contests.
