New Orleans, Louisiana- After a week off, the University of New Orleans women's basketball team will return to the court when they host the Ladyjacks of Stephen F. Austin, Thursday, Feb.23, at Lakefront Arena. Tipoff is 5:30 p. m.
New Orleans (13-11,8-6) is in fifth place in the latest Southland Conference standings while Stephen F. Austin (20-5,11-3) sits in fourth place 3 games ahead of the Privateers. The two teams met on Jan.28 in Nacogdoches, Texas and Stephen F. Austin took an 88-61 win over the Privateers.
"Stephen F. Austin is a very good team but we did not play our best basketball," said head coach
Keeshawn Davenport. "It wasn't so much what they did it was what we did not do. This is certainly one of those games that you want to win and build momentum for postseason."
New Orleans is led by
Randi Brown, the conference's leading scorer and two-time selection as conference player of the week this season. The junior guard is averaging 20.8 points a game after a 24-point, 5 rebound, 5 assist outing in a 92-85 victory over McNeese on Feb. 16. She also leads the team in steals at 1.9 a game and ranks second in the conference with 67 three-point field goals made.
Brown has pleasant memories of playing against the Ladyjacks. She had 20 points including a 3-point buzzer-beater to beat Stephen F. Austin on Jan.14 of last year, 58-57.
Sophomore center
Shania Woods is coming off her third double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds in the win over McNeese. The Cypress, Texas native leads the club in rebounds (7.1) and field goal percentage (.517).
The Privateers will welcome back
Halie Matthews who missed the McNeese game with a concussion. The junior had five consecutive double figure outings off the bench before being held out of the win over the Cowgirls. Matthews averages 6.9 points and 4.3 rebounds a game.
Matthews is one of three non-starters who are among the top five scorers on the team.
Jewel Angelo, a senior guard, has nine double figure games this season after reaching that plateau only once during her junior season. Angelo, who averages 6.6 points a game, had a career-high 23 points against McNeese.
Kayla Mundy, a junior is another reserve who averages 6.4 points and 2.5 rebounds. Mundy has seven double digit scoring games this season.
Against McNeese,
Danielle Wright, a sophomore guard came off the bench to contribute 14 points, 4 rebounds and 6 steals.
"The bye week was good for us because it gave us a chance to focus on ourselves." Davenport continued, "You don't game plan as much when you see an opponent for the second time. It comes down to who is going to want it more, be disciplined and execute."
Stephen F. Austin is tops in the Southland Conference in scoring with 76.6 points a game and they had the longest win streak in the SLC this season with 14 consecutive victories.
Senior guard Taylor Ross leads the Ladyjacks scoring 18 points a contest. In the first meeting this season she had 20 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds.
"The ball is in her hands most of the time and she can score a variety of ways. She's what I call the head of the snake," said Davenport. "But if you chop the head off you've got to worry about that tail wagging and that Brentney Branch."
Branch is a senior guard who averages 14 points a game for the SFA. Freshman Stevi Parker had 31 points and 18 rebounds recently against Abilene Christian
Stephen F. Austin leads the all-time series between the schools 4-3.
The game is the first game of a doubleheader as the UNO men will host Stephen F. Austin in the nightcap at 7:45. The New Orleans women will hit the floor next on the road, Saturday, Feb.25 when they face Northwestern State in a 1 p. m. contest.
For tickets to all Privateer Athletics events, contact the UNO Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 280-GAME (4263) or via the Internet by clicking
HERE.
--www.UNOPrivateers.com--
