Women’s Basketball Cruises to 77-65 Victory Over Visiting Nicholls

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans women's basketball team didn't take long to get back to their winning ways as the Privateers cruised to a 77-65 Southland conference victory over visiting Nicholls at the Lakefront Arena on Saturday afternoon. 

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: New Orleans - 77, Nicholls - 65
LOCATION: Lakefront Arena – New Orleans, La. 
RECORDS: New Orleans (10-8/6-3), Nicholls (5-14/2-8)

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Rehema Franklin once again led the scoring charge as she recorded a team-high 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting (which included a mark of 5-of-7 from beyond the arc) to go with three rebounds and two steals. It is the third straight game and ninth overall that the senior guard has led the Privateers in points scored, 
- Dionjhae Thomas just missed out on a season-high in scoring as she finished with 12 points, six rebounds and two assists.
- The forward duo of Whitley Larry and Asia Woods was once again rock solid as Larry recorded nine points and seven rebounds while Woods also chipped in nine and added 13 boards. One of the pair has led the team in rebounds over the past eight contests.
- Of the 11 Privateers that played in today's game, 10 finished with at least a basket as Vaquela Pimpton (seven points), Jada Duncantell (six), Mia Deck (five) and Traya Bruce, Kayla Thomas and Annalise Brisco (two points a piece). 
- The two teams played a back and forth affair in the opening frame as Nicholls jumped out to a 17-16 lead after one.
- The Privateers came out strong in the second and used a 41.7 shooting percentage from the field in the quarter to take a 35-30 lead at the half. To go with the strong shooting, New Orleans held Nicholls to just a 26.7 percent clip from the field.
- It was all New Orleans once again in the third quarter as they used a 21-16 edge to take a 56-46 lead into the fourth.  
- The two teams traded runs as the Privateers once again won the quarter by two points to close out the 77-65 victory.

FOR THE FOES
- Chrystal Ezechukwu finished with a game-high 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting to go with seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block.
- Airi Hamilton played all 40 minutes of the game and finished with a double-double as she recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds along with three assists.

NEXT UP
The Privateers head to the road for two Southland Conference contests next week after an extended stay at home. New Orleans will travel to Northwestern State on Wednesday, Jan. 29 (6:30 PM CT tip) before the group takes off to Southeastern for a contest on Saturday, Feb. 1 (1 PM).