NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers women's basketball team faces their toughest test of the season as they take on the #5 LSU Tigers in a home game on Sunday at Lakefront Arena. Tip is scheduled for 3 p.m. and Gulf Coast Bank is the presenting sponsor of the contest.
The Privateers are coming off a 90-58 loss at South Florida last Sunday.
Sharon Smith scored 19 points to lead New Orleans and made five three-pointers.
Aaliyah Ellis and
Lauren Banks also had 11 points each in the loss.
With Sunday's game against the Tigers, that will mark the third tournament team from last year the Privateers have played (Oklahoma State, South Florida). This is the first top ten opponent New Orleans has faced since 2021 when they went to #6 Baylor.
Ellis already has two games with double-digit points this season after having none last season. Ellis scored 11 points against South Florida, two shy of her highest mark, a 13-point performance against Loyola. Ellis has also been near perfect from the free throw line. After a 6-for-6 performance against South Florida, Ellis has made 13-of-14 free throw attempts this season.
The lone retired women's basketball number is 44 which was worn by Sandra Hodge (1980-84). Hodge remains the school record holder for points scored (2.824) and field goals made (1,179) in 105 career games. Hodge also played with the Harlem Globetrotters, becoming just the fourth woman ever to do so. There will be a rededication ceremony and an honoring of Hodge along with Ervin Johnson who also has his number retired. Bo McCalebb will join that club this weekend.
The Privateers will be hosting LSU for the 12th time in program history when the two teams meet at Lakefront Arena on Dec. 7. The last time LSU came to New Orleans to face the Privateers was in January 2009. The Tigers are 23-5 all-time against the Privateers.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
LSU (9-0) overcame an early 14-point deficit on their way to a 93-77 win over Duke in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Flau'jae Johnson led a balanced scoring effort with 18 points as six Tigers scored in double figures.
The Tigers have overwhelmed opponents with an average of 109.9 points per game, which leads the nation. They are also beating opponents by an average of nearly 55 points per game. Four Tigers are in the top 75 nationally in field goal percentage, led by ZaKiyah Johnson who is shooting 65.3 percent from the field, good for seventh in the nation. MiLaysia Fulwiley is fourth in the country in total steals (37).
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