New Orleans- Looking to reach their longest winning streak of the season, the University of New Orleans (11-13, 7-8 Southland) will
attempt to make it 4-in-a-row when they travel to Huntsville, Texas to face Sam Houston State (14-11, 9-6 Southland), Wednesday, Feb. 27. Tipoff is 6:30 p. m.
With three regular season games remaining, the Privateers are in position to qualify for the Southland Conference Tournament in Katy, Texas for the third consecutive season.
New Orleans made it three consecutive wins with a 64-60 victory on the road over the McNeese Cowgirls last Saturday.
"Making the tournament again would be a testament to how far this program has come," said head coach
Keeshawn Davenport. "The goal is not to just get there but to get there and stay there."
Shania Woods is the only Privateer averaging double figures in points at 14.3, 9
th in the Southland Conference (SLC). The Houston, Texas native is second in the conference in rebounding with 8.8 a contest and she is 6
th in shooting percentage (48%). Woods has recorded 11 double-doubles----double figures in points and rebounds in a game.
Jada Duncantell, a sophomore point guard, is next in scoring with 8.3 an outing. From Natchitoches, Louisiana, Duncantell led New Orleans with 16 points in the victory over McNeese. She also leads the team in assists (57) and steals (48).
Junior center
Whitley Larry averages only 5.6 points a game, however her points have been "clutch". The 6-1 center hit game-winning shots in the final minute in consecutive wins over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Southeastern Louisiana. From Rayne, Louisiana, Larry also came up with a crucial blocked shot against McNeese. She is second in the Southland Conference in blocked shots with 51 total, an average of 2 blocks per game.
"Whitley goes so hard and she wants to do everything right. She can't be perfect so I try to just keep her uplifted to keep playing hard. The last few games she has played through her mistakes and she's come up big when it's counted."
The Bearkats' calling card is balanced scoring. They have four double-figure scorers led by Jaylonn Walker (15.2), the fifth leading scorer in the SLC. Jenniffer Oramas (12.4), Amber Leggett (11.5) and Lydia Baxter (10.7). Baxter is also one of the top rebounders in the Southland Conference grabbing 8 a game, good enough for third in the league.
"Coach Rayvon Justice has brought her winning ways from Prairie View to Sam Houston. They are silent assassins. They are a really strong team and they have quietly made statements. They were predicted near the bottom of the conference in preseason, but they are sitting in the number five seed."
The last time the two teams faced off was Feb. 21, 2018, a UNO win at Lakefront Arena, 77-50.
Next up for the Privateers, a trip to Thibodaux, Louisiana to face the Nicholls Colonels, Saturday, Mar. 2 at 2 p. m. New Orleans will close the regular season at home, Wednesday, Mar. 6 when Southeastern Louisiana comes to town for a 7 p. m. contest.
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