Privateers Square Off With Ranked Oklahoma State

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NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers women's basketball team (1-4) starts a three-game road trip with the highest-ranked opponent this season when they face the 20^th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowgirls (6-1) on Monday at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.

It's the second Top 25 opponent the Privateers will face this season. New Orleans also battled with then 25^th-ranked Mississippi State at the Lakefront on Nov. 29. New Orleans played one ranked opponent (North Carolina) last season.

The Privateers got in the win column in easy fashion in their last out with an 87-54 victory over Crowley's Ridge last Saturday. Raven Coleman and Yasmin Taylor both set career highs in points with 22 and 17 respectively. Taylor also set career marks in steals (eight) and assists (six) in the victory while hauling in 16 rebounds.

The game was close after the first nine minutes of play with New Orleans holding just a one-point lead. The energy of the bench though sparked a 9-0 run to extend the lead to 10. The Privateers then scored the last 11 points of the half to a carry a 23-point lead into halftime and never looked back from there.

After Saturday's game, New Orleans has now held their collective opponents this season to just 39 percent shooting from the field, which ranks fourth in the Southland. The last four opponents have all been held under 40 percent from the field and the Privateers limited Crowley's Ridge to just 34.7 percent shooting.

This will be the second meeting all-time between New Orleans and Oklahoma State. The Cowgirls won the first meeting 84-54 in Stillwater in Nov. 2008. The Cowgirls are coached by Jim Littell, who just recently went over 700 career wins.

Oklahoma State ran to the Sweet 16 last season and their only loss so far this season was a two-point defeat to 6^th-ranked North Carolina. The Cowgirls rank in the Top 10 in the NCAA in rebounds and assists. Individually, Brittney Martin leads the team in scoring (94 points, 15.7 per game).Roshunda Johnson is eighth in the country in assists at 6.9 per game.

Live video is available to subscribers on okstate.com/collegesportslive. To keep up with the latest New Orleans women's basketball news, follow the team on Twitter @UNOPrivateers and @Privateers_WBB or by liking New Orleans Privateers on Facebook.