Former UNO women’s basketball players Randi Brown, Halie Matthews sign professional contracts

NEW ORLEANS – University of New Orleans graduates and four-year letterwinners Randi Brown and Halie Matthews signed professional deals earlier this offseason. Brown, the second-leading scorer in program history, will head to Finland, and Matthews inked a deal in Bosnia.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to begin my professional career overseas,” said Brown, who came to UNO from Morgan City out of Central Catholic. “It’s an incredible honor and I’m ready to get to work.”

ON PRIVATEERS CAREER

“I’m so thankful for the opportunity to play for New Orleans. To leave the program after four amazing years was a blessing. I wanted to be a part of a team that changed the program and I felt like we did that.”

A three-time all-Southland Conference selection, including back-to-back first-team appearances, Brown was named the 2016-17 Conference Player of the Year. She finished second in program history in scoring (2,130) after averaging 22.0 points during her senior season. The point total was good enough for fifth all-time in Southland Conference history.

A two-time first team all-state selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, Brown became one of two players to make first team all-state in 2017 and repeat in 2018.

During her senior season, Brown was named Southland Conference Player of the Week twice and College Sports Madness Mid Major Player of the Week once. The sharpshooter was voted amateur athlete of the month of January by the Allstate Sugar Bowl Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame.

She had four 30-points games, 17 games of more than 20 points (both tops in the SLC) and her 38-point performance against CSUN was the single-game high this season in the conference.

ON PREPARING FOR OVERSEAS CAREER

“It’s an opportunity I plan on taking full advantage of. Not many get this opportunity and I will continue to improve and work hard in preparation for the start of my professional career.”

Matthews, a West Bank product who prepped at West Jefferson, showed resiliency unlike most after returning from what appeared to be a gruesome leg injury early in the year. She was a pivotal forward that provided crucial minutes down the stretch and averaged 5.4 points and 4.3 rebounds as a member of the second unit.

Halie began the season with 10 rebounds at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and pulled down a career-high 11 versus McNeese State University in mid-February.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Matthews. “Signing around my family was surreal because seeing them around the kitchen table knowing they are with me was amazing. I’ve been preparing nonstop and am excited to see what’s ahead.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

Fans are encouraged to follow @UNOPrivateers on Twitter, @UNOPrivateers on Instagram, like /UNOPrivateers on Facebook and subscribe to the PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.