UNO women lead early, guts out win late at McNeese

Late Heroics Make It Three in a Row for UNO Women’s Hoops

LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Privateers led by as much as 14 but it was the last minute that featured a Whitley Larry blocked shot and back-to-back Jada Duncantell layups as the University of New Orleans (11-13, 7-8 Southland) won its third consecutive Southland Conference game, sweeping McNeese State University (6-19, 4-10 Southland) 64-60, Saturday afternoon at the H&HP Complex.

The win is the sixth-of-seven in league play and for the Privateers, continues the streaky second half of league action. The squad rode the three-point shooting early, but it was late free throws that sealed the victory with all seven made FTs coming in the fourth.

Duncantell led with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, Shania Woods followed with 11 points, nine rebounds and three steals and Traya Bruce added 13 points and three dimes. Bruce hit four triples Saturday. Off the bench, Larry finished with eight points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots, none bigger than the swat with 48.3 ticks remaining.

FIRST QUARTER
Duncantell took over early with the first eight points for UNO, six coming from three-point range. New Orleans shot 56.3 percent from the field and the Privateers connected on 4-of-6 from long range to take a 22-15 lead into the second quarter.

Duncantell was 3-of-4 for the quarter-high eight points, Franklin came off the bench with five points, and the Blue and Silver were selfless with seven assists on nine field goals.

Asia Woods ended the quarter with an and-one.

SECOND QUARTER
The defense continued to force the issue and the Privateers were able to take a double-digit lead over the Cowgirls with 5:03 remaining in the first half. Taking the timeout down 10, McNeese was shooting 27.3 percent from the floor. Moments later, a beautiful pass by Alyssa Quixley found Shania Woods for two to make it a 12-point ballgame. On an inbound from Franklin, Shania Woods added another basket and the foul, becoming the first to reach double figures with 10 (1:55). It was a 10-0 UNO run.

The period came to a close with a nine-point lead for the Privateers. UNO held McNeese to 25.9 percent shooting. Shania Woods led all players with 10 points and six rebounds, Bruce dished out three assists.

THIRD QUARTER
The Cowgirls came within five before coach Davenport called a timeout looking to regroup. On the other side of the break, Bruce hit back-to-back triples to extend the lead back to double figures with 7:29 remaining in the period.

McNeese rallied back and cut its deficit to three heading into the final quarter in regulation.

FOURTH QUARTER
The Cowgirls took their first lead since the opening minutes with back-to-back points (9:00), but Asia Woods’ free throw – the first made FT for UNO – tied the game at 47. Shania Woods’ basket a minute later put UNO back in front by two. Bre’Ashlee Jones and Vaquela Pimpton traded baskets to keep UNO ahead two. The junior drove to the hoop to convert a contested floater to make it 56-51 UNO at the under-five media.

Regan Bolton tied the game at 58-all with 1:38 remaining on a triple and Duncantell flew down the court for a layup. Senior Cinthya Rivas, making her first start of the season, tied the game at 60 with a jumper and her foot on the line, but again, speedy sophomore Jada Duncantell scooped a layup in for her 15th and 16th points of the game to put New Orleans in the lead 62-60, with 59.8 remaining.

With 48 ticks to go, Larry swatted away the potential game-tying shot, and Shania Woods forced a held ball to gain possession for UNO.

Following a timeout, New Orleans ate away at the clock and McNeese played good defense, but Franklin was fouled with one second remaining on the shot clock and 14.4 in the game. She hit the latter of two for a 63-60 UNO lead.

Maddisen Martin sailed a pass into the concourse area and UNO looked to seal the win with 7.5 seconds left to play.

The Privateers, who attempted all but three of their free throws in the fourth quarter, made it three in a row

NEXT UP
The Privateers head to Sam Houston State Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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