Women's Basketball Faces Crucial Contest Against Nicholls State

New Orleans, Louisiana-The University of New Orleans women's basketball team will celebrate Homecoming 2017 Presented by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Saturday, Feb 4, at Lakefront Arena when the Nicholls State Colonels come to town for a key Southland Conference matchup. Tipoff is set for 4:00 p. m. and is the first game of a doubleheader as the New Orleans men will take on Nicholls State following the women's contest at 6:15.
 
The game will serve as a reunion for past members of the UNO women's basketball program
 
"UNO has a rich history and tradition in women's basketball and it was so important for me to try and bring together those of old and those who are here now," said head coach Keeshawn Davenport, a Privateer letter winner from 1997-2001.  "We will have at least 35 former players here for the game."
 
The matchup took on added importance when the Privateers dropped a 66-55 decision to Lamar Thursday night a home.  That placed New Orleans and Nicholls tied in the Southland Conference standings at 5-5 along with McNeese State.
 
"It's going to be a tough game because now we are fighting to stay among the top 8 teams right now."  Davenport continued, "As I always say, it's any given night and they are going to be pumped up coming in here."
 
Despite scoring below her average the last two games, Randi Brown (Human Performance) remains the leading scorer in the Southland Conference averaging 20.2 a game.  She also leads the conference in points scored this season with 403.  Brown, who leads the Privateers in assists (2.5) and steals (32), needs 33 points to pass Michelle Anderson (1980-84) a move into sixth place on UNO's all-time scoring list.
 
For the second consecutive game, Halie Matthews (Biological Sciences) led New Orleans in scoring with a 13-point effort against Lamar.  Matthews, from Harvey, Louisiana, averages 6 points and 3.7 rebounds a contest and she leads the Privateers in blocked shots with 20.
 
"I'm really not sure if it was a talk we had about needing her inside presence but it seems things have clicked for her.  Halie just told me one day "Coach, I've got it".  Now if we can get everyone clicking at the same time, what a beautiful site it will be," said Davenport.
 
Sophomore center Shania Woods (Accounting) continues to pace UNO in rebounds collecting 7.2 a game and she averages 8.9 points an outing.
 
New Orleans is the conference's best 3 point shooting club percentage-wise hitting .353 from long range.
 
Nicholls State (8-13, 5-5) has won three of their last four games including a 78-67 victory over Lamar on Jan. 21. Sophomore Cassidy Barrios leads a quintet of Colonels scoring in double figures with 15 points a game.
 
Nicholls leads the Southland in 3-point field goals made 183, and free throw percentage at .781. Coached by Dobee Plaisance (1980-82) a UNO letter winner, the Colonels are second in steals with 13 a game.  
 
"I've said all along that Nicholls has quietly moved up.  They had some injuries but now they've re-worked their lineup with the guards and they are figuring out how to make it work," said Davenport.
 
New Orleans leads the all-time series 24-16.  The Privateers and Colonels split last season's home-and-home with New Orleans winning 62-55 at Lakefront Arena and Nicholls taking a 70-55 decision in Thibodaux.
 
The next time the Privateer hit the floor will be Thursday, Feb. 9 against Incarnate Word at Lakefront Arena.  Tipoff is at 7 p. m.
 
  For tickets to those games and other Privateer Athletics events, contact the UNO Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 280-GAME (4263) or via the Internet by clicking HERE.
    
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