Women's Basketball Hosts Nicholls in Wednesday Night Contest

NICHOLLS AT NEW ORLEANS
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27 | 7 PM
NEW ORLEANS, LA. | LAKEFRONT ARENA

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The New Orleans Privateers women's basketball team (5-11, 2-5) takes back to the court for a match-up against an in-state foe in the Nicholls Colonels (6-11, 4-3) on Wednesday at the Lakefront Arena. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
The Privateers cut an 11-point halftime deficit to six in their last outing, but could not draw closer in a 73-59 loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Danielle Davis scored a season-high 16 points on 7-of-9 from the field and Randi Brown added a team high 17 points. Shania Woods went for double figures in rebounds for the second time this season, hauling in 10 boards.
 
"We've just got to find a way to do the little things earlier so we don't find ourselves in that position where we're clawing but they give it everything they have in the game to get themselves back in the game. We practice extremely hard, but we've just got to get over this hump and once we do we'll be fine," said Coach Keeshawn Davenport.
 
The Privateers and Colonels split two meetings in the 2014-15 season, each protecting their home floor. The Colonels won in Thibodaux 56-40 and the Privateers returned the favor with a 68-63 triumph at the Lakefront on Feb. 26. New Orleans is 23-15 all-time against the Colonels, which includes a 14-5 mark at home.
 
Halie Matthews has been efficient from the field in her last three games. Matthews has logged 15.3 minutes per game and has gone 10-of-14. The stretch started with a 6-of-7 performance against Houston Baptist. Matthews is also the team's leading shot blocker.
 
At around this time last season, the Privateers started to collect wins in bunches and that was sparked by a triple overtime victory against McNeese State in which Davis set a new career mark with 26 points. Coach Davenport stressed the importance of having at least two or three scoring options stepping up every night in order to achieve that same success this time around.
 
"I put a lot on Danielle's shoulders on Saturday and I think she did a great job of handling responsibility. She can put the ball in the basket at any given time. She just looks to get other people involved, but as we go forward we have to have two or three stepping up consistently and this is a team that can do that."
 
Wednesday marks the penultimate game for the month of January before the Privateers turn their attention to a road heavy February schedule. Six of the Privateers' seven February games will be played on the road against McNeese State, Central Arkansas, Southeastern, Northwestern State, Nicholls, and Abilene Christian.
 
The Colonels saw their three-game winning streak snapped against Central Arkansas in a 71-65 loss on Saturday. LiAnn McCarthy scored a season-high 26 points in the loss and Cassidy Barrios followed with 20 points. Nicholls was out-scored 46-36 in the second half by the Sugar Bears.
 
DoBee Plaisance is in her eighth season at the helm and is on the brink of achieving history. Plaisance is one win shy of tying Ben Abadie for the most wins at Nicholls. Prior to her stint in Thibodaux, Plaisance served as the head coach at Loyola (New Orleans). Plaisance has racked up 244 career victories heading into Wednesday.
 
"They're going to come out here and play extremely hard. It's going to be a lot of match-up zone, and an up tempo game. Their guards get the job done and I expect it to be a great game," said Davenport.
 
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