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KATY, Texas- When the University of New Orleans Privateers take the floor Friday in the quarter-final round of the 2017 Southland Conference Basketball Tournament in Katy, Texas, history will be made. It will be the first Southland Conference Tournament action for the Privateers since UNO joined the conference four years ago. The fourth seed in the tournament will face fifth seed Texas A&M- Corpus Christi, Friday morning, Mar. 10, at the Merrell Center. Tipoff is set for 11 a. m.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi advanced with a 57-46 win over Northwestern State, Thursday in a first round match.
"Making the tournament is just awesome because we get to represent the university," said head coach
Keeshawn Davenport. "It was such an uphill battle to get here and it just feels good, it feels like this is where we belong and to earn a bye is tremendous. It shows the progress that has been made. I've been here before as a spectator but it's a lot better being a participant."
The last time the University of New Orleans played in a conference tournament was 2010 when the Privateers, a 12-seed, reached the semi-finals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament where they lost to the number one seed, Arkansas-Little Rock.
New Orleans (14-14,9-9), will rely on the Southland Conference's leading scorer and First Team All-Southland selection
Randi Brown. The junior guard averaged 22.8 points per game and she also leads the Privateers in assists (2.7) and steals (1.9). Her single- season total of 638 points this year is the third highest single-season point total in New Orleans history and her 38-point performance in the regular season finale against Nicholls moved her into third place on the program's all-time scoring list with 1,449 career points.
The Houma, Louisiana native was also named Southland Conference Player of the Week three times this season, in addition to being named College Sports Madness National Mid-Major Player of the Week after her school-record, 45-point outing in a New Year's Eve win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Shania Woods, a sophomore center from Cypress, Texas is the second leading scorer on the club. Woods averaged 9.6 points and 7.4 rebounds and game---placing her in the Top 10 in both categories in the SLC. She has fashioned four double-doubles including season highs on 21-points and 14-rebounds in a road win over the University of the Incarnate Word.
The team's next three leading scorers are non-starters. Senior
Jewel Angelo leads the way averaging 7.1 points and 1.6 assists per game. Angelo, who did not start a game this season, reached double figures 11 times and had a season-high 23 against Mc Neese on 2/16/17. Guard
Kayla Mundy, of McKinney, Texas, averages 6.3 points and 2.8 rebounds. She reached her season-high of 16 points in victories over Sam Houston State and Nicholls.
Halie Matthews missed six games due to injuries but managed 7 points and 4.5 rebounds. She also leads the team in blocks per game with 1.0.
As a team New Orleans has averaged 72.0 points, 37.8 rebounds, 13.0 assists, 9.1 steals and 3.6 blocks a game. The Privateers lead the Southland Conference in 3-point shooting percentage canning 146-of-414 for a .353 clip.
The Islanders of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi are 13-17 after Thursday's come-from-behind win over Northwestern State. The tournament's fifth seed, they lack a double figure scorer. Brittany Mbamalu leads the Islanders in scoring at 8.9 points a game. She is followed by Kassie Jones (8.2), Camesha Davis (7.7) and Dalesia Booth (7.5).
"Since they didn't play a lot of people and they've already played a game, we may try to press them," said Davenport. "Transition defense and our offensive output will be important. If we come out and score the way we have been scoring and get some defensive stops along the way, I think things could work out in our favor."
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi leads the all-time series 5-1.
With a win Friday over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the Privateers will move on to face the tourney's number one seed, Central Arkansas, Saturday, Mar.10 at 1 p. m. The game can be seen on ESPN3.
For tickets to Privateer Athletics events, contact the UNO Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 280-GAME (4263) or via the Internet by clicking
HERE.
--www.UNOPrivateers.com--
