Randi Brown, UNO pull past SLU, 82-73

NEW ORLEANS, La. – New Orleans outscored Southeastern Louisiana, 25-16, in the third quarter and held off the Lady Lions for an 82-73 Southland Conference women’s basketball victory Wednesday night at Lakefront Arena.

For the second straight game, the third quarter was the downfall for the Lady Lions (6-19, 5-9 Southland). UNO improved to 12-13 overall and 8-6 in league action with the win.

The difference in the tightly-contested game came at the free throw line, as UNO made 88.0 percent (22-for-25) from behind the arc, while SLU made 14-of-19. Both teams made 28 field goals, UNO had four threes to three treys for the Lady Lions.

UNO had a narrow 43-42 rebounding advantage. Southeastern had 11 assists to 10 for the hosts. New Orleans committed 19 turnovers to 18 for the Lady Lions. Both teams finished with 10 steals.

Sophomore guard Charliee Dugas led Southeastern with a season-high 26 points, while senior guard Taylin Underwood added 12. Sophomore guard Tyler Morrison and junior forward Kyla Williams dropped eight points each for SLU.

Freshman forward Caitlyn Williams grabbed a team-high nine rebounds for the Lady Lions. Morrison, junior guard Jaclyn Scholvin and junior guard Ashailee Brailey chipped in with three assists apiece. Dugas also led Southeastern with three steals.

UNO senior guard Randi Brown led all scorers with 32 points, becoming the seventh player in Southland Conference history to reach 2,000 career points. Brown (32 points, 10 rebounds) and junior forward Shania Woods (18 points, 13 rebounds) each posted double-doubles for the Privateers, who also got 19 points from senior guard Kayla Mundy.

Neither team could gain a clear advantage in the first half, which featured three ties and eight lead changes. Brown led all scorers with 19 points in the initial 20 minutes to send the Privateers in the break with a 39-36 advantage.

After the two teams traded baskets to start the third quarter, UNO took control with a 19-4 run that stretched over the majority of the period. A layup by senior forward Halie Matthews put the Privateers up, 60-42, with 2:45 left in the third quarter.

Southeastern would cut the lead to 12 heading into the final period, but would never get closer than nine over the game’s closing 10 minutes.

On Saturday, Southeastern returns home to host Abilene Christian for a 2 p.m. contest in the University Center. The Southeastern Channel will televise the game live and the game will be streamed on the Southland Digital Network at www.southland.org/live. The game will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio app.

Senior guard Bre Warren will be Saturday’s Spotlight Player of the Game. The first 150 fans will receive a trading card featuring the Slidell, Louisiana native courtesy of PRIDE.

Southeastern Louisiana 73 (6-19, 5-9 SLC)
C. Williams 1-5 0-0 2, Underwood 5-12 0-1 12, Scholvin 2-4 1-2 5, Morrison 2-5 4-4 8, Brailey 2-8 1-2 5, K. Williams 4-6 0-0 8, Carrier 1-9 4-4 7, Dugas 11-20 4-6 26. Totals 28-69 14-19 73.
New Orleans 82 (12-13, 8-6 SLC)
S. Woods 5-11 8-9 18, A. Woods 0-2 0-0 0, Brown 12-26 6-8 32, Wright 1-7 0-0 2, Mundy 6-9 6-6 19, Matthews 3-5 0-0 6, Duncantell 0-1 0-0 0, Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Swafford 1-4 2-2 5, Larry 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-65 22-25 82.
End of 1st Quarter – SLU 22, UNO 22. Halftime – UNO 39, SLU 36. End of 3rd Quarter – UNO 64, SLU 52. 3-point goals – SLU 3-16 (Underwood 2-5, Carrier 1-6, Dugas 0-3, Brailey 0-2), UNO 4-20 (Brown 2-11, Swafford 1-2, Mundy 1-1, Wright 0-4, Matthews 0-1, Duncantell 0-1). Technical Fouls – None. Fouled Out – K. Williams. Rebounds – SLU 42 (C. Williams 9), UNO 43 (S. Woods 13). Assists – SLU 11 (Three with 3), UNO 10 (Wright 3). Total Fouls – SLU 20, UNO 17. A – 241.