NEW ORLEANS, La. – Senior
N'Denasija Collins poured in 22 points but the HCU women's basketball team came up short in Southland Conference play on Thursday evening in Lakefront Arena, falling to New Orleans, 71-61.
N'Denasija Collins got the scoring started with a three-pointer in the first minute and
Jo Oly extended it to a 5-0 HCU (5-15, 0-9 SLC) lead with a layup 45 seconds later. The host Privateers (8-12, 5-4 SLC) answered with the next six points, however, and the two teams went in to the first media timeout even at 8-8. UNO's DeArica Pryor and Collins traded threes to bring the score to 11-11 before the Privateers went on a 6-0 run late in the first quarter and ultimately held a 19-16 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes.
UNO's lead reached seven, 23-16, but an 8-2 run that included threes from both
Kennedy Wilson and
Enya Maguire trimmed that to a 25-24 ballgame at the 6:46 mark in the second quarter. After UNO answered with a bucket, Collins scored the next five to put the Huskies ahead, 29-27. The Privateers regained the lead one minute later but HCU tied the game two more times before heading into the half tied, 34-34.
Zoe Cooper put UNO ahead with a jumper shortly after the start of the second half but Collins again came up big for the Huskies, converting a second chance layup with an ensuing layup for a one-point lead. The senior then scored off a UNO turnover with a mid-range jumper and the Huskies held a 39-36 lead less than three minutes in. The Privateers stormed back ahead with the game's next six points. After falling behind 48-44, HCU wrapped up the third quarter with a pair of free throws from Wilson, one from Collins and another from Hannah Field to head into the final quarter tied at 48-48.
The Privateers scored the first six points in the final quarter, maintaining a lead throughout. The Huskies got back to within two with 6:44 left and then cut it to three, 62-59, with 3:55 to go.
Collins fell just short of a double-double with 22 points and nine rebounds, connecting on 6-of-14 from the floor, 3-of-5 from deep and 7-of-9 from the foul line. Oly ended the night shooting 5-of-6 from the field for 10 points while also adding five boards. Maguire and Wilson each added 10 points while Fields finished with nine.
The Huskies out-shot the Privateers, 43.5 percent (20-of-46) to 42.9 percent (27-of-63), but committed 22 turnovers and were out-rebounded by a 40-28 margin.
HCU will next make the trek over to Thibodaux, La. for a Saturday, Feb. 3, 1:00 p.m. tip-off at Stopher Gym vs. the Nicholls Colonels.
