Jacksonville, Alabama-Randi Brown (Human Performance) hit a jumper with 8 seconds remaining in regulation giving the University of New Orleans women's basketball team a hard-fought, 81-79 victory over Jacksonville State Tuesday night in Jacksonville, Alabama.
The Privateers had five players in double figures lead by Brown who finished with a game-high 28 points and 11 rebounds as UNO upped its record to 2-3 on the season.
"It's the kind of thing we expect from Randi," beamed head coach
Keeshawn Davenport. "A missed free throw by them ended up in her hands, we had no timeouts, she dribbled up the sideline, attacked the middle and when it left her hand it. looked good."
The first half saw three ties and four lead changes. New Orleans' largest lead was 5 while Jacksonville State (2-3) mustered 3-point advantages twice. It was a 35-35 deadlock at the half. Brown led UNO in scoring with 12 points despite being saddled with 3 personal fouls.
New Orleans took control of the game in the third quarter outscoring Jacksonville State 27-19. UNO led by as many as 13 points at 60-47, when
Randi Brown canned a jumper at the 1:45 mark of the third. The junior guard had 13 points in the period. JSU chipped away at the lead and trailed by eight, 62-54 at the end of the third quarter.
The Gamecocks continued their comeback with a 7-0 run in the first 1:39 of the fourth quarter making it a one-point game at 62-61 New Orleans. The Privateers never lost the lead but there were five ties the rest of the way. Baskets by senior
Jewel Angelo (Interdisciplinary Studies) broke ties three times during period number four, including a jump shot with :44 remaining to make it 79-77.
Lacey Buchanon, who had 14 points, tied it at 79 with a basket for the Gamecocks at the :34 mark, setting the stage for Brown's heroics.
Joining Brown in double digits were Angelo with 12 points in 11 minutes. Senior guard
Ariele Davis (Marketing) had a career-high 11 points.
Mariah Wright (Computer Science), a sophomore, netted a career-high 10 points and 4 assists and sophomore
Shania Woods (Accounting) had 10 points and 7 assists.
Raven Coleman (Interdisciplinary Studies) had 4 points but contributed 9 important rebounds in a reserve role.
"It was a total team effort. When others are scoring the defense on Randi tends to relax," says Davenport. "So when she gets the ball back in her hands she makes things happen."
UNO outrebounded JSU 45-34 and won the battle for points in the paint 39-19. New Orleans was 6-of-9 from behind the three-point arc for 56 percent.
"We were victorious tonight because we challenged them to have a short mistake-response. Move on if you make a mistake. They did that tonight showing resilience."
The Privateers will return to action Tuesday, Nov.30, at Lakefront Arena against Texas Southern. Tip off at 5:30 p. m.
For tickets to that game and other Privateer Athletics events, contact the UNO Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 280-GAME (4263) or via the Internet by clicking
HERE.
--www.UNOPrivateers.com--
