NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers women's basketball team will close out the season with a Mardi Gras day trip to Lake Charles to face the McNeese Cowgirls. Tip is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Legacy Center.
The Privateers had a huge second half on Saturday as they defeated UTRGV 72-59. New Orleans entered the second half trailing by two, but the defense held the Vaqueros to just seven made field goals in the second half.
Nora Francois led the Privateers with 16 points and nine rebounds.
On Saturday, the Privateers held the Vaqueros to 27.7 percent from the field, the lowest opponent field goal percentage this season.
For the third time this season, the Privateers reached 20 assists in a game in their win against UTRGV. They also did it against Texas A&M-CC on Jan. 2 and East Texas A&M on Feb. 20. The Privateers have had more assists than turnovers in three of the last four games.
Francois is near the top in every statistical category. She has had eight consecutive double digit scoring efforts coming into Tuesday. Francois is fourth in the Southland in points, fifth in rebounds, tied for sixth in blocks and tied for seventh in steals. Francois needs 19 rebounds to reach the 500-rebound mark just on the Lakefront.
New Orleans is looking to atone for a home loss to McNeese on Feb. 15. The Privateers led going to the fourth quarter but were outscored 19-9 in the final 10 minutes of a 71-66 loss. Francois and
Shanihya Brown notched double figures with 21 and 10 points respectively.
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After two losses coupled with two Texas A&M-Corpus Christi wins, the Cowgirls were eliminated from postseason contention. McNeese has shot under 40 percent from the field in seven of their last eight games.
Paris Guillory leads the Cowgirls with 14.1 points per game. She has also made 39.1 percent of her 92 three-point attempts on the season. Kiyara Ellis is one of the leading shot blockers in the league with a total of 41 rejections.
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