New Orleans, Louisiana- Despite shooting an icy 32 percent from the field, the University of New Orleans Privateers (3-3) relied on tough defense and clutch free throw shooting to earn a hard-fought win over Texas Southern University, 63-57, Wednesday at Lakefront Arena.
The win over the Tigers from the Southwestern Athletic Conference, who fell to 4-2 on the season, was important and significant.
"It's a great win because it puts us at .500 and it gives us a winning streak," beamed head coach
Keeshawn Davenport.
The last time UNO was at the .500 mark was December of 2015 after back-to-back wins over Trinity Baptist and Jackson State ran the Privateers record to 3-3.
The visitors from Houston took an 11-9 lead into the second period and increased the lead to six points at 21-15. A 6-0 Privateer run consisting of a layup by Sophomore
Shania Woods (Accounting), a basket in the paint by freshman
Whitley Larry Pre-Secondary Education) and two free throws by
Randi Brown (Human Performance) tied it at 21 with 2:16 to go in the first half.
A jumper by
Jewel Angelo (Interdisciplinary Studies) with 1:39 to go gave New Orleans the lead at 23-21 and that was the halftime score. Angelo was one of only two Privateers in double figures with 12 points and 4 rebounds in 19 minutes of action.
"You've got to look at
Jewel Angelo coming in and contributing efficiently with the minutes she's getting off of the bench," said Davenport.
The first half had three ties and two lead changes. Sophomore guard
Mariah Wright (Computer Science) was the leading scorer for UNO during the first two quarters with 7.
New Orleans never trailed during the third quarter, increasing the lead to six thanks to a
Raven Coleman (Interdisciplinary Studies) basket with 1:05 to go at 32-26. Coleman tallied only 4 points but grabbed 9 big rebounds. The Privateers led by three, 39-36 after three.
"Raven's efforts on the boards were huge. This is the second straight game where she's had nine rebounds." Davenport continued, "That's so important because it takes away possessions from them."
Randi Brown, the leading scorer in the Southland Conference coming into the game, was the game's high scorer with 20 points----18 coming in the second half. Brown knocked down four consecutive free throws in the final minute of the contest increasing a two-point 54-52 advantage to 58-52 with :57 seconds to go in regulation.
Brown, Angelo and sophomore
Danielle Wright (Biological Sciences) hit free throws to supply the rest of the scoring in the final :20 seconds for the win. New Orleans was 24-of-28 from the free throw line.
The leading scorer on the night for Texas Southern was guard Joyce Kennerson, the only Tiger in double figures with 15.
The Privateers will face Iowa State on the road, Sunday, Dec. 4, before returning home on Monday, Dec. 12, against Trinity Baptist at 11 a. 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--
