NEW ORLEANS – A tight battle throughout saw the New Orleans Privateers rally from an eight point deficit early in the fourth quarter to defeat the McNeese Cowgirls 73-71 in the regular season finale on Tuesday at the Legacy Center.
The Privateers were behind 65-57 with 7:10 remaining after an Azjah Reeves jumper, but the road squad steadily chipped away behind stellar defense in the late stages. The Cowgirls were held without a field goal over the last 4:49 of the game.
Nora Francois, who set a new career mark for free throws made in a game, got to the line and made both free throws to tie the game at 70-70. After the Privateers got a stop,
Alexis Calderon was fouled and hit both free throws to put New Orleans up by two.
McNeese had a chance to either tie or win the game in the final seconds. Avery Young's jumper was off the mark and the rebound went out of bounds. With 0.8 seconds left, an inbound pass resulted in a turnover and the Privateers held in a game that saw 10 ties and 16 lead changes.
The 13 made free throws by Francois tied for the fifth highest total in a game in program history.
Nothing separated the two teams on the scoreboard through the first 20 minutes. There were eight ties and 12 lead changes between the Privateers and Cowgirls.
McNeese led by as many as six in the first half after a turnaround jumper by Kiyara Ellis at the 7:22 mark of the second quarter. The Privateers quickly responded with a 7-0 spurt of their own, which was capped by a pair of Francois free throws to retake the lead.
Francois had a busy first half, particularly at the charity stripe as she went 9-of-10 in the opening 20 minutes. She finished the first half with 17 points and five rebounds.
Syria Butler led the offense for the Privateers out of the break as she had seven points in the third quarter. Both teams continued to trade the lead throughout the quarter. Back-to-back triples by
Kyla Davis put McNeese ahead by five with 3:59 remaining in the third, but Butler's layup tied the score at 52-52.
The Cowgirls got a pair of Paris Guillory free throws to take a two-point lead into the final quarter.
Four Cowgirls finished in double figures led by Ellis who had 16 points.
INSIDE THE BOX
Francois finished her season with 24 points and nine rebounds while going 13-of-14 from the free throw line.
Gabbi Cartagena finished with 14 points, six rebounds and four steals. Butler and Calderon each had nine points.
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