Women's Basketball to Face Central Arkansas on Thursday

CENTRAL ARKANSAS AT NEW ORLEANS
THURSDAY, JAN. 21 | 7 PM
LAKEFRONT ARENA | NEW ORLEANS, LA.

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The New Orleans Privateers women's basketball team (5-9, 2-3 Southland) is in preparation for a grueling battle against the top defense in the Southland in the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears (14-2, 4-1). The game will take place on Thursday at Lakefront Arena and is scheduled to tip at 7 p.m.
 
The Privateers lost their last outing 71-51 to Houston Baptist. New Orleans was trailing by six entering the fourth quarter, but was out-scored 23-9 over the final 10 minutes. Halie Matthews led a solid bench performance with 12 points off the pine. As a team, the Privateers got 35 points from their bench in the loss.
 
Thursday offers a match-up the top two rebounding teams in the conference. New Orleans is averaging 42.7 rebounds per game while Central Arkansas follows with 41.8 boards a game. "Every possession is going to be important on both ends for both teams. The difference is going to be who gets the hustle plays. I believe tomorrow's going to be an all out fight," said Coach Keeshawn Davenport.
 
New Orleans is looking to keep up their mojo in Thursday games. Both of their previous conference wins (vs. Incarnate Word and vs. Stephen F. Austin have come on Thursday contests. Overall, the Privateers are 3-1 in Thursday games this year.
 
Randi Brown has 16 assists in her last five games, bringing her season total to 29 assists. Brown set a career high with eight assists against Sam Houston State. Brown has also been the most frequent visitor to the free throw line (48-of-61) and has taken 103 of the Privateers' 168 three-pointers.
 
Central Arkansas is coached by Sandra Rushing who is in her fourth season with the team. The Sugar Bears are tied for the best overall record in the Southland at 14-2 and they've done it with defense. Central Arkansas is allowing just 47.8 points per game, which is second in the nation only behind Virginia Tech. This season, the Sugar Bears have held 10 opponents under 50 points.
 
Coach Davenport said about Central Arkansas' defense, "They're just aggressive and disciplined. They allow the catch and then they pressure. They don't do anything outside what they're accustomed to and they crash the boards extremely hard which is challenge for us. It comes down to who wants it more."
 
Raquel Logan is leading the Sugar Bears' effort on the boards, averaging 8.2 per game which ranks in the top five in the conference. Logan is also the team's leading shot blocker and is shooting 55.8 percent from the field.
 
The Privateers and Sugar Bears have met three times with Central Arkansas taking all three meetings. Coach Rushing and Coach Davenport also met once when Rushing was at Delta State.

For more information on ticket purchasing for the 2015-16 season, click here or call (504) 280-GAME (4263).
 
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