Women's Basketball Gets A Win On The Road At McNeese, 71-59

Lake Charles, Louisiana- Thanks to a third quarter run which included a combined 20 points from Randi Brown (Human Performance) and Shania Woods (Accounting), the University of New Orleans Privateers defeated the McNeese State Cowgirls 71-59, Thursday evening at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
 
The win moves the Privateers record to 10-8 overall and 5-3 in Southland Conference play.  McNeese falls to 10-9 and 5-3 in the Southland Conference (SLC)
 
Brown, the Southland Conference's leading scorer, led UNO with 29 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and a steal.  She scored 24 of her 29 points in the second half.  Woods, a sophomore from Cypress, Texas, notched her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
 
"Randi had one of those Randi nights although it was a quiet 29 points.  And Shania did a great job of limiting their second looks," beamed head coach Keeshawn Davenport. "When the inside-outside combo is working and with another scoring guard we have a very good night."
 
The first quarter, which saw the Privateers lead by 5 on three occasions, ended with a four-point UNO advantage at 21-17.  Kayla Mundy (Human Performance) had six points in the period off the bench.  The junior guard finished with 11 points marking her fourth double figure outing in five games.
 
New Orleans led through most of the second period.  The Cowgirls tied it at 22-22 but that would last for a mere 20 seconds.  A Mariah Wright (Computer Science) layup followed by a layup and a jumper by junior post player Halie Matthews (Biological Sciences) made it 28-22 UNO---their largest lead of the first half.  New Orleans lead by four at halftime, 32-28 thanks to 18 points by reserves led by Mundy with nine first half points.
 
While the reserves got the lead for the Privateers, the starters increased it.  Randi Brown and Shania Woods combined for 20 points in the third period, as the Privateers outscored the Cowgirls 23-15.  Brown had 12 points in the period while Woods tallied 8 as New Orleans led by as many as 16 in the quarter. An 18-6 Privateers run made it 52-34.  The quarter ended with UNO leading by 12, 55-43.
 
The Cowgirls could get no closer than 8 in the final stanza as Randi Brown scored 12 in the fourth quarter.   New Orleans was solid at the free throw line especially down the stretch, hitting 12-of-16 from the charity stripe on the night.
 
Guard Danielle Wright (Biological Sciences) had 6 points on 2-of-2 from beyond the 3-point arc.  Raven Coleman (Interdisciplinary Studies led the Privateers with a season-high 4 steals.
 
New Orleans outrebounded McNeese 41-40 and they won the battle of the benches 23-20.
 
McNeese was led by Amber Donnes with 12 points.
 
The victory over the Cowgirls was the fourth road win of the season for the Privateers.
 
"This team knows how to respond after a tough loss," said Davenport.  "And to come out and do it on the road against a team that's good at home like McNeese, it's a sign of a team that's growing and maturing."
 
The Privateers complete the two-game road trip against Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas, Saturday, Jan. 28.  Tipoff is 3:30 p. m.  Their next home game is Thursday, Feb. 2, when the Lamar Cardinals visit Lakefront Arena 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--