Privateer women lose heartbreaker in wild OT finish at Northwestern State

NATCHITOCHES, La. – The New Orleans Privateers seemingly had victory in their clutches but a barrage of free throws and a jumper in the last second of overtime vaulted Northwestern State to an 82-81 win on Saturday at Prather Coliseum.

New Orleans led by as many as six in the overtime period, but the Lady Demons engineered a 7-0 run to grab a one-point lead. The Privateers responded right back when Green scored in the paint to give New Orleans an 81-80 advantage.

After a review, the Lady Demons had possession with 0.4 seconds remaining. On the inbound from the baseline, Alecia Whyte nailed a jumper. A lengthy review confirmed the ball left her hands before the clock expired, ending a heartbreaking game for the Privateers.

A defensive first half gave way to a shootout in the second half. There were 102 combined points between the two sides in the second half alone.

New Orleans led 68-63 after Tara Green hit a layup with 24 seconds remaining. The Lady Demons cut the lead back to one possession on two free throws from Sharna Ayres. With the score at 71-67 in favor of New Orleans, the ball found Kelsey Thaxton for a three-point attempt.

Brianna Ellis was whistled for a foul on the shot and then called for a technical foul. That meant five free throws for the Lady Demons. Thaxton connected on four of them to tie the game and send it to overtime.

New Orleans was great at the free throw line in the second half and overtime. The Privateers went 23-of-26 from the charity stripe in that stretch.

With the loss, New Orleans remains in ninth place, one game behind both HCU and McNeese with three games left to play.

INSIDE THE BOX
DeArica Pryor logged 39 minutes and scored 27 points, two shy of tying her career-high. Green scored 15 points off the bench. Nahja Scott (11) and Justice Ross (10) also reached double figures for the Privateers. Zoe Cooper finished with 10 rebounds to lead the team in that department.

Candice Parramore scored 26 points in 39 minutes. Ayres added 19 and Joelle Johnson finished with 11. Jiselle Woodson finished with five assists.

NEXT UP
The Privateers will face Nicholls on Thursday at Lakefront Arena. It will also be Senior Night with festivities to take place before the opening tip at 5 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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