NEW ORLEANS, La. – HCU scored 23 points in the first quarter and took a seven-point lead after the first 10 minutes but dropped a Southland Conference road matchup to New Orleans, 62-55, at Lakefront Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The Huskies (5-13, 2-7 SLC) came out firing on all cylinders offensively, scoring 23 points and closing the first quarter with an 8-2 run to lead 23-16. HCU shot 66.7 percent (10-of-15) from the field in the first 10 minutes.
Jo Oly made a layup to put the Huskies ahead, 25-18, early in the second period but the host Privateers (2-15, 2-6 SLC) went on an 18-2 run to put HCU at a 36-27 disadvantage with just 1:26 left in the half.
Victoria Dixon sank a pair of free throws before the buzzer, however, for a 36-29 ballgame at the break.
It didn't take long for HCU to cut its deficit down to just two early in the third quarter with a
Hannah Fields' layup at the 7:26 mark making it a 39-37 game. The Huskies hung around the rest of the quarter, pulling within one on two occasions, including after a
Tiffany Tullis layup in the final minute that sent the teams to the fourth with UNO ahead, 48-47.
The two teams traded buckets to open the fourth before the Privateers went on a seven-point burst to jump ahead by eight, 57-49. A
Lyric Barr jumper at the 4:32 mark cut it down to six but neither team scored for nearly three minutes afterward. A pair of Jasmine Jones free throws again made it an eight-point game before Tullis scored the next four points to bring HCU back within four, 59-55, with a little over a minute remaining. UNO connected on three free throws in the final minute while the Huskies were unable to get the ball in the basket for the 62-55 final.
Tullis led the Huskies with 12 points and 10 rebounds for her second consecutive double-double while also adding three steals. Barr finished the day with nine points and a career-best seven boards.
Amy Cotton had eight points and six rebounds.
HCU shot 34.4 percent (21-of-61) from the floor while holding a 43-33 advantage on the boards. UNO, meanwhile, connected on 39.6 percent (19-of-48) overall and hit from three at a 41.7 percent (5-of-12) clip. The Privateers were led by Jayla Kimbrough who finished with 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting.
HCU remains in Louisiana to take on Southeastern in Hammond, La. on Monday, Jan. 27, at 4:00 p.m. in a rescheduled matchup that was originally supposed to be played this past Thursday.
