New Orleans, Louisiana- Randi Brown (Human Performance) poured in a school-record 45 points and set a single-game mark for 3 pointers made as the University of New Orleans opened conference play with a win for the first time in nine years. The Islanders of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi were the victims and New Orleans ran its record to 6-5 overall, 1-0 in the Southland Conference with a New Year's Eve 75-54 win Saturday at Lakefront Arena.
The junior sharpshooter smashed the record set in 1981 by UNO All American Sandra Hodge, who knocked down 44 points in a win over Spring Hill College. Her nine 3-pointers bettered the mark held by Shanna Cook who hit 8 shots from long range in 1994 against Alcorn State.
The last time the Privateers started conference play with a win was the 2007-08 season, a 66-56 win over Arkansas-Little Rock as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
Brown, the Southland Conference's leading scorer, was 16-of-28 from the field, 9-of-18 from beyond the 3-point arc and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line. She also found time to grab six rebounds and dish out 4 assists.
"It was so amazing for coach to let me stay in the game and get the record. And all the love and support I got from my teammates who were so excited after I did it made me feel good," said Brown.
New Orleans got a quick start thanks to long range shooting by the Houma, Louisiana native. She scored the first nine points for the Privateers on three consecutive 3-point shots. The Privateers canned six 3-pointers in the first period to take a 22-10 lead.
The lead ballooned to 19 by halftime as Brown had another 12-point quarter, giving her 24 at the break. The Privateers, who never trailed in the game, led 38-19 at intermission.
Brown would add 11 points in the third period which saw the advantage increase to 26 points, 60-34. She tallied 14 in the final stanza, breaking the record with a layup with :02 seconds remaining in regulation.
"With a minute to go in the game I asked coach to take me out because my legs were tired." Brown continued, "But she told me no because I was near the record. I appreciated her letting me stay in to get it."
Sophomore
Shania Woods (Accounting) joined Brown as the only two Privateers in double-figures with 10 points and 9 rebounds.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (4-8, 0-1) found out the Privateers were just as impressive on defense, forcing 25 turnovers while scoring 29 points off those miscues. The Islanders could manage only 18 buckets on 51 attempts for a shooting percentage of 35.3 percent.
"They knew Corpus Christi's guards were great penetrators and that's what we told them they had to guard tonight," said Davenport. "That meant guarding a lot of pick and rolls and they did a great job of that."
New Orleans had 21 assists on the day led by
Ariele Davis (Marketing) with 6.
"That tells you this was a team-game," said Davenport. "I told them play hard, play with confidence, and play together and that's exactly what they did."
Although Texas A&M-Corpus Christi outrebounded New Orleans 39-37, senior forward
Raven Coleman (Interdisciplinary Studies) was impressive on the boards grabbing 10 rebounds to lead in that category.
New Orleans embarks on a three-game road trip with games at Abilene Christian Jan.3, at Lamar Jan. 5, and at Incarnate Word Jan. 7.
The next UNO home game will be Thursday, Jan. 12, versus Sam Houston State. Tipoff is 5:30 and it is the first game of a doubleheader as the Privateer men will face Sam Houston at 7:45.
For tickets to those games 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--
