Women's Basketball Looks For Season Sweep Against Nicholls

NEW ORLEANS AT NICHOLLS
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 | 7 PM
THIBODAUX, LA. | STOPHER GYM

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The University of New Orleans women's basketball team (7-16, 4-10 Southland) enters a must win situation against a familiar foe on Wednesday when they face the Nicholls Colonels (8-16, 6-8) at Stopher Gym. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
With the chase continuing to intensity for positioning and qualification for the Southland tournament, the Privateers find themselves 1.5 games back of Lamar who holds the last spot at 6-9. New Orleans is also going for their third straight win against Nicholls on Wednesday. The Privateers hold a 24-15 advantage in the all-time series.
 
"We understand and know what's at stake," said Coach Keeshawn Davenport. "I don't think they've allowed it to pressure them. We've just got to stay focused on one game at a time. Our preparation has been the same for every game and that's focusing on defense."
 
The Privateers came out on the winning side of the first meeting between the two schools this season. Back on Jan. 27, New Orleans handed the Colonels a 62-55 defeat, a game in which Randi Brown scored 17 of her 28 points in the fourth quarter and the Privateers went 14-for-16 from the free throw line in the second half. New Orleans also held Nicholls to 30.5 percent shooting, their third best statistical defensive performance of the season.
 
Wednesday marks the third of a four-game road trip. The Privateers have split the first two games, defeating Southeastern to start the road swing and losing their last outing 70-53 to Northwestern State. In the loss, New Orleans went over 40 percent from the field for the third time in their last four outings and out-rebounded the Lady Demons 34-30.
 
Shania Woods has started the last eight consecutive games for the Privateers. Against Northwestern State, Woods tied a season and career-best as the true freshman went for 13 points. On the season, Woods is shooting 51.1 percent from the field and leads the team in rebounds with 5.0 per game. Woods also played her highest minute total of the season (32) last Saturday.
 
"We've got to take care of the ball and not have unforced turnovers where we don't give ourselves a chance to score," said Davenport. "When you look at certain stats in the game that made a difference on Saturday. We still have to play defense, but we also have to protect our possessions and capitalize on those opportunities."
 
The Colonels have slid back in the standings over the past couple of weeks. Nicholls has lost three straight and four of their last five including their latest defeat, an 89-67 score line against Stephen F. Austin. Four Colonels scored in double figures in the loss, led by Hope Pawlowski who posted 14 points.
 
Nicholls has been able to consistently force turnovers as their steals per game total shows. The Colonels average 10.7 steals a contest which ranks second in the Southland only behind Lamar. Pawlowski and Tia Charles rank second and sixth in the Southland respectively in steals.
 
For more information on ticket purchasing for the 2015-16 season, click here or call (504) 280-GAME (4263).
 
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