New Orleans- The University of New Orleans (2-2) women's basketball team will open a three-game road trip, Saturday, Dec. 1, in Houston, Texas against the Rice University Owls. Tipoff is set for 2 p. m.
New Orleans looks for recovery from a loss at home at the hands of Louisiana-Monroe, 57-44, on Nov. 25. In the game, the Privateers shot a frigid 30% from the floor (15-of-50) and ULM scored 13 points off 19 Privateer turnovers.
"That was dismal and I don't know if we can shoot any worse," said head coach
Keeshawn Davenport. "The good part is we have worked on executing our offense better and we have to be able to get the shots we want---high percentage shots around the basket and wide open shots."
New Orleans was led by senior center
Shania Woods with 13 points and 9 rebounds against Louisiana-Monroe. For the season, the Houston, Texas native is the club's leading scorer averaging 14.5 points and 7.8 rebounds a contest.
The surprise performer of the young season however is sophomore
Kayla Thomas, a 6-5 sophomore from Philadelphia has reached double-figures in the last two contests. Thomas followed up a double-double performance (17 points and 11 rebounds) against Trinity Baptist with a 12 point, 7 rebound outing versus ULM. She leads UNO in shooting percentage at .663.
"Kayla is coming along and progressing all the time. She was out for two years so I expected some anxiousness and in her first couple of games she fouled out. She's really been getting on the boards and once she settles down as the season progresses, Kayla will get better and better," said Davenport.
The Owls (4-2) of Conference USA (C-USA) are led by Erica Ogwumike, a well-decorated junior from Cypress, Texas. She averages 17 points and 11 rebounds and was cited last season as C-USA Newcomer of the Year, All-Defensive Team, First Team All-Conference, and All-Tournament Team.
Rice's defeats came at the hands of a couple of nationally ranked teams, #20 Texas A&M and #23 UCLA, both played on the road.
"They are a real disciplined team that runs the Princeton offense and they move the ball around until they get the shot they like. This will be a good test for us and will prepare us for conference play."
Up Next
New Orleans will continue the road-swing with a Dec. 4 trip to face Memphis followed by a Sunday Dec. 9 date against the Miami Hurricanes. The Privateers will return home on Wednesday, Dec. 12 to face Dillard University at Lakefront Arena for a weekday-morning match at 11 a. m.
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