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NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers women's basketball team (5-9, 2-3 Southland) fell on the wrong end of a big fourth quarter run in a 71-51 loss to the Houston Baptist Huskies (8-8, 3-3) on Saturday at the Lakefront Arena.
The Huskies broke open a close game with a 15-0 run that began in the final minute of the third quarter. New Orleans was trailing by just two when the spurt started, but the Huskies used efficient free throw shooting and transition offense to put the game out of reach.
"Transition defense was one of the keys to the game and even more so us not crashing the boards and getting those offensive rebounds. Toward the end of the third quarter and into the fourth, we didn't do a good job of that," said Coach
Keeshawn Davenport.
The game was tight early in the third quarter as the Privateers kept the deficit within one possession for the first eight minutes of the quarter. The Huskies visited the line four times in the last 1:30 of the quarter and exited the stanza with a 48-42 advantage.
Both teams were held without a point for the first 2:56 of the game before
Randi Brown led off the scoring for the Privateers with a jumper. The game was a defensive slugfest early on, but the Huskies got a transition basket in the final seconds of the first quarter.
The Huskies came out strong to start the second quarter and quickly built their lead to 23-10. However, New Orleans came back with solid defense and energy off the bench from
Halie Matthews and
Jewel Angelo who combined for 15 points in the first half. New Orleans managed to trim the Houston Baptist lead to three (28-25) at the half.
"I really think the difference of the game was the third quarter. HBU was more aggressive than us and they got to the line. We were not aggressive and to their credit, they were. That's a great team over there," said Davenport.
Matthews led the Privateers with 12 points on 6-of-7 from the field. Angelo followed with seven points.
Danielle Wright added three steals and three assists. The Privateers as a team outscored Houston Baptist 36-22 in the paint.
"Halie was our leader for the game. She was the one that led the practice and she showed up big time for us tonight. It's good to see that because her inside presence is going to be needed as we continue this journey," said Davenport.
Houston Baptist was led by Amanda Johnson's career high 19 points and Rachel Arthur's 20 points and four steals. Anna Strickland had a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds while also adding four blocks. The Huskies shot 18-of-22 from the line while the Privateers were held to 4-of-9 from the stripe.
The next outing for New Orleans will be on Thursday, Jan. 21 against Central Arkansas. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.
For more information on ticket purchasing for the 2015-16 season, click
here or call (504) 280-GAME (4263).
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