NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers (2-10, 1-2) threatened a comeback from a second half double-digit deficit but they ultimately fell 62-54 to the HCU Huskies (7-7, 2-1) on Saturday afternoon at the Lakefront Arena.
Trailing 48-33 with 1:33 left in the third quarter, the Privateers' defense really dug in and started stringing together a flurry of stops. The Huskies were held to just four points over the next 8:52 of the game clock.
In that span, New Orleans got the Huskies lead down to 52-47. However, a Kennedy Wilson three-pointer stymied the Privateers' run and New Orleans could not get any closer for the remainder of the contest.
The Privateers fell behind early as HCU rattled off the first seven points of the game. Four of them came from Marilyn Nzoiwu who had nine points and five rebounds in the first half alone. New Orleans started to settle in toward the end of the first quarter and the second started with a bang.
An 8-0 run started by a
Zoe Cooper baseline jumper put the Privateers ahead 16-14. However, Julija Vujakovic responded with a three-pointer to put the Huskies back in front. That started a 10-0 run which encompassed the next three minutes.
HCU went to the half with a 33-24 advantage behind a 25-14 advantage on the boards. The Huskies had nine offensive rebounds to New Orleans' three.
INSIDE THE BOX
Hennessey Luu-Brown finished with a team-high 14 points and added three assists.
Tara Green finished with eight points and six rebounds.
Nora Francois added eight points while Cooper led the way in boards with seven. Cooper and
Justice Ross each dished out four assists.
HCU had four in double figures led by Dee Collins who had 18 points and 12 rebounds. Nzoiwu also had a double-double with 15 points and 13 boards. The Huskies outrebounded New Orleans 43-36 for the game.
NEXT UP
The Privateers will head to San Antonio to face UIW on Thursday, Jan. 12.
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