Women's Basketball Returns Home to Face UNCG

UNCG AT NEW ORLEANS
THURSDAY, DEC. 17 | 11 AM
LAKEFRONT ARENA | NEW ORLEANS, LA.

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OPENING TIP
The New Orleans Privateers women's basketball team (3-4) returns home for their final game before Christmas against the UNCG Spartans (4-6) on Thursday morning at the Lakefront Arena. Tip is scheduled for 11 a.m.
 
The Privateers were defeated 97-59 at Ole Miss on Monday evening. In the game, New Orleans fell behind by 18 after the first quarter and trailed 60-28 at halftime. Randi Brown led the way in scoring for the Privateers with 13 points while going a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line. Bria Platenburg added 10 points and seven rebounds.
 
Platenburg has recorded three straight games of double figures in points after scoring 10 against Ole Miss. Platenburg has also moved up to fifth in the Southland in field goal percentage (52.3 percent)  and is second on the team in scoring (8.3 PPG).
 
Thursday is a Holiday Hoops promotion: the first 100 faculty and staff members to redeem an invitation will receive free admission and will also receive lunch courtesy of Moe's Southwest Grill.
 
FAST BREAK
-The Privateers are 0-4 away from Lakefront Arena as opposed to a 3-0 mark at home.
-New Orleans has pulled down at least 40 rebounds in every game since the season opener at TCU.
-Danielle Davis has the fourth-best assist-turnover ratio in the Southland at 1.3.  (22 assists, 17 turnovers).
 
SERIES HISTORY
RECORD: First Meeting
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
UNCG played their last game a week ago, losing 95-52 to UNC-Asheville on Dec. 10. The Spartans shot just 25.9 percent from the field in the first half of the loss. All four of the Spartans' wins this season have come at home while they are 0-4 on the road. UNCG has played one ranked opponent (South Carolina) in non-conference.
 
Lucy Mason is the team's leading scorer at 24.5 points per game. Mason also ranks third in the NCAA. As a junior last season, Mason surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career against Mercer on Jan. 12. This season, Mason is averaging 38.1 minutes per game and leads the team in points, three-point field goal percentage, assists, steals, and free throws made.
 
Coach Wendy Palmer is in her fifth season at the helm of the Spartans. Palmer was an 11-year veteran of the WNBA and played for four different teams. In her second season, Palmer replaced longtime Spartans coach, Lynne Agee who retired in 2011 after 30 years in Greensboro.
 
For more information on ticket purchasing for the 2015-16 season, click here or call (504) 280-GAME (4263).
 
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.