HIGHLIGHTS
NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans (3-17, 2-11 Southland) took the lead into the final quarter against the league leaders, but the HBU Huskies (15-9, 11-2 Southand) survived 56-47 at Lakefront Arena to claim a at least a share of the Southland Conference Championship on Wednesday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After an opening three-pointer by
Tiana Gipson the Huskies used an 12-0 scoring run during the first quarter to take early control. New Orleans responded with baskets from
Jomyra Mathis and
Zanaa Cordis but HBU took a 19-10 lead into the second quarter.
Justice Ross scored the first basket of her Privateer career cutting the Huskies lead to 21-16 before a jumper by Mathis cut Privateer deficit to four with 4:52 to play in the first half. It seemed the Privateers had the momentum following a turnover by Juilia Vojakovic but a flurry of Husky threes after the media time out extended gave the HBU an eight point lead at the break.
The Privateers played perhaps their best quarter of the season coming out of the locker room, outscoring HBU 19-5 in the third quarter. Five quick points out of halftime by Pryor, sparked an 11-0 UNO run giving New Orleans a 45-36 lead with 1:53 left in the third quarter. HBU made just 1-of-11 shots in the third quarter, and UNO forced five Husky turnovers.
With a share of the Southland Championship on the line the Huskies responded. Trailing 45-41 entering the fourth quarter, HBU turned up the intensity on offense scoring the game's next nine points before a free throw by Scott broke the scoring run.
Trailing by five with 1:58 remaining Scott was fouled on the rebound, and she split a pair of free throws. However, during the same sequence Scott was called for a technical foul, allowing Kennedy Wilson to make two free throws making the score 52-46 Huskies – the closest UNO would get the rest of the way.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Pryor led the Privateers with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting and pulled down a team high seven rebounds.
- In her season debut
Justice Ross finished with four points on 2-of-6 shooting and a rebound in 10 minutes of action.
- Tommyree Thompson scored 6 points on 3-of-5 shooting with three rebounds and three assists in 15 minutes of play.
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NEXT UP
New Orleans plays its final road game of the season at Nicholls on Saturday afternoon. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+, and Jude Young will describe the action on UNOPrivateers.com. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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@PrivateersWBB on Twitter,
@PrivateersWBB on Instagram, and like
/PrivateersWBB on Facebook.
