New Orleans-The University of New Orleans women's basketball team will try to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Nicholls last weekend when the Islanders of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi come to Lakefront Arena, Saturday, Feb. 16. Tipoff is 2 p. m.
It's also "PLAY4KAY DAY", part of a national fundraiser and day-of-awareness for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Kay Yow was a highly successful coach at North Carolina State University who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2009 after a courageous 20-year battle with the disease.
"It's always a special day to honor the survivors of breast cancer and to encourage those who are fighting that ugly disease," said head coach
Keeshawn Davenport. "It's wonderful that women's basketball does this in honor of Coach Yow, who fought like a champion."
It's the first game of a Southland Conference doubleheader before the men's contest between the UNO and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game.
New Orleans (8-13, 4-8 Southland) had its homecoming spoiled by Nicholls last Saturday, 76-62. A&M-Corpus Christi (12-10, 6-5 Southland) dropped its last outing to Sam Houston State, 61-59, on Wednesday.
Earlier this season the Islanders earned a win at home over the Privateers back on the 19
th of January, 57-51. They are statistically one of the SLC's better defensive clubs, ranking third in points allowed at 59.1. They also hold teams to .367 shooting from the field.
Shania Woods continues to have a season of milestones. The senior is 8
th in the conference in scoring (14.9) and 2
nd in rebounding (8.8). Woods has moved into the top ten in school history in scoring (1,151 points) and she is only 14 rebounds shy of moving into 3
rd place all-time at UNO. Woods now stands at 801 boards. She will vault over Dollene Magee (1983-85) who finished her career with 814 rebounds.
The Houston, Texas native has recorded 10 double-doubles this season and during the last two weeks she has garnered honorable mention recognition for Southland Conference player of the week.
Jada Duncantell, a sophomore from Natchitoches, Louisiana, is the next highest scorer for New Orleans at 8.3 a game. She also leads New Orleans in assists with 51 and steals averaging 2.1 an outing.
6-5 center
Kayla Thomas got her first start of the season in the loss to Texas A&M-CC last month responding with 13 points and 8 rebounds in only 12 minutes of play before fouling out. The sophomore from Philadelphia, Penn has started the last 7 games and is averaging 6.8 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. Thomas is also 3
rd in the SLC in blocks averaging 1.3 a game.
Rayne, Louisiana native
Whitley Larry averages 7.0 rebounds, good enough for 6
th place in the conference, and she is 2
nd in blocks with 43 for an average of 2.0 a game.
For the Islanders Dalesia Booth, a junior guard from San Antonio, leads the Islanders in scoring averaging 12.9 a game.
Alexes Bryant, the team's leading rebounder (6.6) had 14 points and a Southland Conference single-game record of 15 blocks in the loss to Sam Houston State. Bryant, a 6-3 junior, is now the conference leader in blocks with a total of 55 for 2.5 a contest. She replaced UNO's
Whitley Larry as the conference leader in blocks.
"That's what you call a true "block party," chuckled Davenport. "I don't think I've ever heard of one person blocking 15 shots in a game. That's amazing!"
Up Next
New Orleans will face Southeastern Louisiana, Wednesday, Feb. 20,in Hammond, Louisiana. Tipoff is at 7 p. m.
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