Larry’s Buzzer Beating Three Gives WBB 53-50 Win Over First Place SFA

NEW ORLEANS - Whitley Larry banked in her second career three-pointer as time expired as the Privateers women's basketball program knocked off the top team in the Southland, Stephen. F. Austin, by a 53-50 margin at the Lakefront Arena on Saturday afternoon. 

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: New Orleans - 53, Stephen F. Austin - 50
LOCATION: Lakefront Arena – New Orleans, La.
RECORDS: New Orleans (6-7/2-2), SFA (10-3/3-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Larry finished with a game-high and new career-high of 15 points to go with eight rebounds, four blocks and four steals. 
- Freshman guard Mary Delgado chipped in 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting to go with a season-best five rebounds and three steals. 
- Dionjhae Thomas added nine points with a team-high two assists and a rebound. 
- Rehema Franklin recorded eight points to go with an assist and a steal.
- Jada Duncantell scored three points while Asia Woods, Mia Deck and Annalise Brisco each chipped in two points apiece to round out the Privateers scoring attack. 
- Stephen F. Austin jumped out to an early 18-11 lead after the first quarter of play. The Ladyjacks hit 7-of-18 shots while they allowed the Privateers to go 5-of-15 from the field. SFA used five offensive rebounds to score 10 second chance points. 
- The second was all New Orleans as they held Stephen F. Austin scoreless over the first 6:34 of the quarter to go on a 13-0 run. SFA went just 2-of-17 from the field overall in the half, a mark of 11.8 percent. The Privateers outscored the Ladyjacks by a 17-4 margin in the second.
- The third quarter swung back in SFA's corner as the Ladyjacks outscored the Privateers by a 18-7 margin. Stephen F. Austin held a five point lead heading into the final frame.
- The start of the fourth quarter was a back and forth affair as the two squads traded baskets in the early going. New Orleans was able to cut it to a one-point game off a Mia Deck layup with 4:16 left to play. A Larry jumper gave the Privateers a 48-47 advantage with 2:30 remaining. 
- SFA tied the game at 48 off of a free throw with 1:17 left and both teams traded free throws which set the scene for Larry's heroics. With just five seconds left, Larry got the ball off the inbound and found herself at the top of the key as the seconds ticked down. She was able to grab control of the ball with seconds left before putting up the game-winning three attempt which banked in for the Privateer victory. 

FOR THE FOES
- Stephanie Visscher led the way with 13 points, seven rebounds, two steals and a block.
- Aiyana Johnson added 10 points while Riley Harvey and Kennedy Harris each chipped in nine.

NOTEWORTHY
- The last two Privateer wins against SFA have come on buzzer beaters. New Orleans defeated Stephen F. Austin back on Jan. 14, 2016 by a 58-57 margin. Privateer great and current pro Randi Brown banked in a three with 0.2 seconds to give New Orleans the victory.
- Larry continued her climb up the career blocks list. With four today, she now has 106 rejections for her career, good for a tie for eighth all-time in program history. The senior forward now has 106 blocks in 111 games. 

COACHES CORNER with KEESHAWN DAVENPORT
- "I think they picked up and knew I was going to Rehema when I checked her in but we practice last second situations and when Plan A isn't there to go to Plan B and I'm not going to tell you Plan B was Whitley hitting that three but that's reading the defense. She read the defense and I was yelling she was the open one and the bank was open."
- "You have to play the full 40 minutes against SFA and we know basketball is a game of runs. Stephen F. Austin made a nice run to start out of the locker room. I just told them to keep their calm and keep pushing."
- "This is the time of the year you want to be heading in the right direction. We have not done that since we've been in the Southland Conference where we beat Lamar on the road and then beat SFA. You have different players showed up in both games."
- "Mary is a tough cookie. I love the fight in that young lady. Non-conference was tough because she didn't get reps but she kept working. When her number was called, she has not turned back. She loves and accepts a challenge but most of all she accepts coaching."

NEXT UP
The Privateers hit the road with an extended Southland Conference trip to Central Arkansas on Wednesday, Jan. 8  at 7 PM CST before jumping back on the bus and traveling to UIW for a game on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 2 PM CST.
 

Whitley Larry called game and down goes the No. 1 team in the Southland!

Privateers win 53-50 on the buzzer-beating three!! #NOLAsTeam?? pic.twitter.com/14UrANRIK0

— New Orleans Women's Basketball (@PrivateersWBB) January 5, 2020