UNO falls to McNeese, enters Southland women’s tourney as No. 7 seed

LAKE CHARLES, La. – The New Orleans Privateers women’s basketball team punched their ticket to the Southland Tournament despite a 68-56 loss against the McNeese Cowgirls on Wednesday at the Legacy Center.

With a loss by HCU, the Privateers have qualified for the tournament. They will play the Cowgirls again next Monday at 1:30 p.m.

New Orleans went to the fourth quarter trailing 48-40. The Cowgirls scored the first bucket in the final stanza to extend the lead to 10. That’s when the Privateers went on a 10-2 run to cut the McNeese lead to two with 5:20 left.

The Cowgirls pulled away again though as they scored on their next seven possessions. The Privateers were not able to keep pace with the offensive barrage that McNeese offered down the stretch. The Cowgirls shot 56 percent from the field in the fourth quarter.

There were five ties and three lead changes on the game as the Privateers kept battling throughout the night. Though the Privateers kept it close for most of the game, they never led in the second half. McNeese was ahead 30-23 at halftime.

McNeese outrebounded New Orleans 49-34 on the evening and was plus-14 in points in the paint on the evening.

INSIDE THE BOX
Tara Green scored 19 points to lead the Privateers’ offensive effort. DeArica Pryor added 11 points and Nahja Scott landed in double figures with 10. Pryor also added a team-high six steals. Brianna Ellis had six points and four boards.

For McNeese, four players scored in double-figures led by Divine Tanks who had 18. Le’Shenae Stubblefield added 11. Desirae Hansen finished with 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.

NEXT UP
The Privateers will head back to Lake Charles to face McNeese on Monday at 1:30 p.m. in the first round of the Southland Tournament.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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