Women's Basketball Drops Home Contest to Central Arkansas

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NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers women's basketball team (5-10, 2-4) held the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears (15-2, 5-1) to 34.7 percent from the field, but got off just 39 shots in a 59-44 loss on Thursday night at the Lakefront Arena.
 
The game was tight throughout the first half as the largest lead was eight by Central Arkansas in the second quarter. Early on, the Sugar Bears relied on the three-point shot which kept them in front for most of the first half. Central Arkansas drained four triples including three from Brianna Mullins.
 
There were five ties and three lead changes in the opening half, but the Privateers found themselves trailing 25-17 with 6:31 left in the second. New Orleans slowly chipped back into that advantage and Yasmin Taylor's second chance bucket with under a minute remaining closed the gap to two. The Privateers then committed three turnovers in the final minute and entered the half trailing 31-25.
 
The second half started on even terms and stayed that way until the 3:15 mark. Central Arkansas was leading by eight at that point when they went on an 8-2 run to end the quarter. The spurt was capped by a Mullins layup to push the Sugar Bears lead to 49-35 entering the fourth.
 
"We didn't do a great job of guarding the three-point line. While we held Proffitt to three points in the first half we allowed Mullins to do some damage. We just lost a couple of assignments and when you look at the stats that's what hurt us," said Coach Keeshawn Davenport.
 
New Orleans held the Sugar Bears to just three points through the first four minutes of the final quarter, but could not make a dent in the lead. Central Arkansas hit seven triples and went 18-for-20 from the free throw line in the game. New Orleans committed 19 turnovers in total including 12 in the second half. The teams tied in rebounds at 30 a piece.
 
Shania Woods led the Privateers with 12 points on 6-of-11 from the field. Woods also added two blocks in 22 minutes. Randi Brown scored eight points and Alexis Martin added six. New Orleans outscored Central Arkansas 28-14 in the paint, but committed 12 turnovers in the second half and 19 overall.
 
"A lot of those turnovers were unforced. We have to value those possessions. We finished the game with 19 of them and that hurts. When you play a team like UCA who can capitalize on turnovers, that makes a big difference," said Davenport.
 
The Sugar Bears were led by Mullins who had 18 points, 12 rebounds, five steals, and four assists. Maggie Proffitt added 13 points (10 in the second half). Jameka Watkins scored 12 points and went 10-for-10 from the free throw line.
 
New Orleans will next face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday. Tip is scheduled for 4:30 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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