Women's Basketball Faces Central Arkansas to Start Saturday Road Doubleheader

NEW ORLEANS AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS
SATURDAY, FEB. 6 | 2 PM
CONWAY, ARK. | FARRIS CENTER

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NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans women's basketball team (6-13, 3-7 Southland) continues their road journey on Saturday when they take on the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears (18-2, 8-1) on Saturday at the Farris Center. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
The Privateers started fast in their last outing, but were out-scored 23-9 in the second quarter of a 92-63 loss to McNeese State on Tuesday. Randi Brown had 18 points including 11 in the first quarter. Brown also added eight rebounds and two blocks. Shania Woods added 12 points and nine rebounds.
 
New Orleans was successful in getting to the free throw line on Tuesday. The Privateers had 32 total trips, the most in a game since conference play started. The team was 24-of-32 from the stripe and is shooting 69.4 percent on the year. Woods has warmed up from the line as well, connecting on 18 of her last 20 attempts. That included a 6-for-6 effort against McNeese.
 
Currently, the Privateers are on the outside looking in for the conference tournament with eight games to go. New Orleans is one back of Sam Houston State, which holds the final spot currently at 4-6. Central Arkansas currently holds the top seed with an 8-1 mark.
 
"We're motivated to continue to move up so we're all competing for that final position," said Coach Keeshawn Davenport. "Something we have to look to continue to do is finish the game. That 15-point final the first time we played UCA was not a true story of the entire game but it came down to us not finishing strong. We have to play the whole 40 minutes."
 
This season, New Orleans has been able to hold their edge on the glass against most opponents. The Privateers have out-rebounded 11 opponents this season and lead the Southland in total rebounds (42.1 per game) and offensive rebounds (16.9 per game). New Orleans out-paced McNeese 47-38 on the glass Tuesday.
 
The Sugar Bears enter with the longest active winning streak in the conference. Central Arkansas has won eight straight since losing their conference opener to Abilene Christian on Jan. 2. During that streak, only one opponent has scored more than 60 points. The Sugar Bears are currently second in the nation in scoring defense.
 
Maggie Proffitt leads the team in scoring and three-pointers made on the year. Proffitt is averaging 14.8 points per game. In Central Arkansas' last outing against Southeastern, Proffitt surpassed the 1,000-point milestone for her career as she helped guide the Sugar Bears to an 80-58 win. Central Arkansas out-scored Southeastern 36-3 in the third quarter of the contest.
 
"I've made it a point of emphasis to be aggressive in the paint," said Davenport. "We have to play solid defense inside and we'll have a job tomorrow inside and outside, but I'm looking forward to post players stepping up because we need a big game from them."
 
The Privateers and Sugar Bears have met four times and Central Arkansas has taken all four meetings. The two teams met up at the Lakefront on Jan. 21 and the Sugar Bears steadily pulled away to a 59-44 victory. Proffitt, Brianna Mullins, and Jameka Watkins were all in double figures for Central Arkansas on that night.
 
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