New Orleans- Despite leading for more than half of the game and a season-high 27-point performance by
Shania Woods, the University of New Orleans (5-12, 1-7 Southland) could not hold off a third period surge by Incarnate Word (2-16, 2-5 Southland) as the Privateers fell to UIW, 81-69, Saturday at the McDermott Center in San Antonio.
Woods picked up her seventh double-double of the season with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Guard
Dionjhae Thomas, a sophomore from Thibodaux had a season high 11 points on the afternoon before fouling out. Point guard
Jada Duncantell had 7.
Whitley Larry had 4 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks for one of the Southland Conference's leaders in that category.
UIW hit 31-of-41 free throws while UNO was 11-of-22 from the line.
FIRST QUARTER
Despite 9 Privateer turnovers, New Orleans took the first quarter 18-15.
Shania Woods had 9 points in the period and
Alyssa Quixley came off the bench for 4. UNO was 8-of-13 from the field, 61-5%. The Privateers won the battle of points-in-the-paint 12-4.
SECOND QUARTER
New Orleans went on a 9-0 run to take a ten-point, 25-15 lead at the 6:35 mark of the second quarter. However, UIW went on a 9-0 run to make it 25-24 UNO with 2:59 to go. The first half would end 39-34 Privateers.
Shania Woods had 15 points in the first half.
Dionjhae Thomas had 9 points. New Orleans shot 50% from the field (15-of-30). New Orleans outrebounded the Cardinals 22-11 and had 20 points-in-the paint to 6 for UIW. Macy Ray of Incarnate Word scored 19 of her 21 points in the first half.
THIRD QUARTER
UIW took their first lead of the second half, 44-41, on an Imani Robinson 3-point play at 5:37 to go in the third. Robinson led the Cardinals with 26 points. A
Whitley Larry bucket, and a 3-point play by
Jada Duncantell got the lead right back for UNO at 45-44. UIW would out score New Orleans in the period 21-12 thanks to an 8-of-10 performance at the free throw line by the Cardinals. It was 55-51 Incarnate Word after three.
FOURTH QUARTER
The Privateers regained the lead in the final quarter thanks to a 10-3 run. A
Traya Bruce 3-pointer and a layup by
Shania Woods made it 61-58 Privateers with 8:49 to go. But the Cardinals went on a 15-0 run and led by 12, 73-61, at the 3:32 mark. Two consecutive 3-point baskets by Kara Speer, only 14 seconds apart and her only points of the day, brought the UIW lead to double figures at 71-61. New Orleans never got closer than 8-points as Incarnate Word picked up its first win at home this season.
COACH'S COMMENTS
"I felt like we had our moments but we could not overcome our lulls. We didn't really come out of the locker room for the third quarter and it's a tough, tough loss, said head coach
Keeshawn Davenport
On free throws
"Statistically, if you look at most categories we won with the exception of free throws where they hit 31-of-41 free throws and that's pretty tough. I thought we did not adjust to the officials whistle but credit UIW because they were the aggressors and the whistle call goes to the aggressor."
On turnovers
"You are not going to win many games with 26 turnovers. We just did not take care of the ball and a lot of those turnovers were unforced turnovers and it takes away the opportunity to score. We have to have consistent guard play and our guard have to step up and score.
Dionjhae Thomas did a good job of stepping up and scoring today. But we need consistent play from our guards and our post players at the same time.
Up Next
New Orleans heads next to Natchitoches, Louisiana, Wednesday, Jan. 30 to face Northwestern State at 6:30 p. m.
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