New Orleans, Louisiana- Despite the lowest single-game point total of the season by the Southland Conference's leading scorer
Randi Brown (Human Performance), the University of New Orleans put up a valiant effort against the University of Central Arkansas, the defending conference tournament champions, but came up just short in a 55-51 loss at the Lakefront Arena on Saturday.
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak and dropped the Privateers record to 9-8 overall and 4-3 in Southland Conference play.
"The intangibles cost us tonight," said head coach
Keeshawn Davenport. "They were more aggressive than us early. They showed heart, diving on the floor for loose balls and they attacked our post players and got them in foul trouble. We responded but not quickly enough."
New Orleans led by two at 15-13 at the end of the first quarter. The largest Privateer lead of the day---six points--- came at 9:01 of the second period when a
Randi Brown jumper made it UNO 19 UCA 13. The New Orleans lead was wiped out by a 9-0 run by the visitors in the final 1:36 of the half and Central Arkansas was up by five at the break, 28-23.
A basket and two free throws by Brianna Mullins of UCA increased the Sugar Bears' lead to nine early in the third quarter, 32-23. New Orleans fought back late in the period as a
Kayla Mundy (Human Performance) jump shot cut the lead to 35-34, UCA with 1:57 to go in the third. A 7-2 UCA run kept the Privateers at bay and the period ended 42-36 UCA.
UNO remained within striking distance and never trailed by more than six in the final stanza. A
Randi Brown 3 pointer, her only one of the day, brought UNO to within 3 points at 52-49 with :37 seconds to go. Two free throws by Brown with 15 seconds to go in regulation cut the lead to only 2 points, 53-51. However, Mullins, who finished with 18 points, canned two free throws with 11 seconds to go to ice it for the Sugar Bears.
Randi Brown and
Halie Matthews (Biological Sciences) shared high-point honors for the Privateers with 12 apiece. Brown was 4-of-16 from the field and 1-of-8 from beyond the 3-point arc. Her 12-point outing matched her season low which came against Blue Mountain College in November. Matthews had 4 rebounds to go along with her 12 points and led New Orleans in blocked shots with 3.
"Halie has brought great energy during the last few games off the bench offensively. And Randi didn't have a great Randi night but t that's going to happen and that's why we need another guard scorer," said Davenport.
Forward
Raven Coleman (Interdisciplinary Studies) had another solid day with 6 points and 8 rebounds while
Shania Woods (Accounting) had 8 points.
Kierra Jordan lead Central Arkansas (13-4,5-2) with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
The low score was expected in a game between two teams near the top of the conference statistically in defense. New Orleans shot 35.2 percent from the floor (19-of-54) while the Privateers held Central Arkansas to 40 percent hitting 16-of-40 shots on the day.
The battle on the boards was virtually tied 35-33 in UCA's favor. However the Sugar Bears cashed in on more opportunities at the free throw line getting 18 more chances at the charity strip.
"When I see 21-of-32 for them and 11-of-14 for us that means we did not follow through with our aggressive game plan to get to the line. They won the game on the free throw line," added Davenport.
New Orleans forced the Sugar Bears to commit 23 turnovers.
The Privateers will return to action Thursday, Jan. 26, on the road against Mc Neese State followed by a trip to Nacogdoches, Texas to face Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, Jan. 28. Their next home game is Thursday, Feb. 2 against Lamar at 7 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--
