New Orleans Privateers (1-8) at HCU Huskies (5-6)
Saturday, Dec. 31 – Noon
Sharp Gymnasium - Houston, Texas

TV (PxP with Garrett Jones and color commentary from Hall of Fame coach Van Chancellor)
Live Stats

HOUSTON – The HCU women's basketball team begins the defense of their Southland regular season champions title from one year ago against the New Orleans Privateers Saturday afternoon in Sharp Gym. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Garrett Jones on play-by-play and Van Chancellor providing color commentary.
 
HCU (5-6) closed out their toughest non-conference schedule in program history with road loses to Texas State and Texas. The Huskies played four preseason ranked teams including Nebraska, LSU, Baylor, and the Longhorns.
 
The Huskies swept the season series against the Privateers (1-8) last year and three of the last four contests dating back to the 2019 season. Julija Vujakovic and Kennedy Wilson led HCU to wins last year by scoring 16 and 20 points respectively in those two games.  
 
Vujakovic and N'Denasija Collins lead the Huskies in scoring at 12.6 and 12.5 points respectively. Collins is also leading the team in rebounding, collecting 6.5 per game.
 
Marilyn Nzoiwu and Abbey Sutherland lock down the paint for the Huskies and have combined for 23 blocks. Enya Maguire leads the bench unit with 6.7 ppg and is shooting a team high 43 percent from distance.
 
After an impressive 2021-22 season, DeArica Pryor leads New Orleans in scoring with 16.3 points per game, the only Privateer averaging double figures in scoring. Nora Francois is almost nine points and seven rebounds per game. Pryor and Francois  have combined for 36 steals thus far.
 
New Orleans and HCU will face off twice through the first three Southland fames of the conference schedule. The Huskies next take the court on the road at Southeastern January 5th before heading to New Orleans for a road matchup against the Privateers on the 7th.