CCHS alum Brown scores 28, New Orleans tops Nicholls

The New Orleans Privateers women’s basketball team (6-11 overall, 3-5 Southland Conference) used persistent defense early, clutch free throw shooting and 28 points from Randi Brown to secure a 62-55 win against the Nicholls Colonels (6-12, 4-4) Wednesday at the Lakefront Arena.
New Orleans flipped the script in the fourth quarter as it hit 8-of-11 shots after going without a field goal in the third. The Privateers went ahead for good at the 3:45 mark.
At the charity stripe, New Orleans went 14-for-16 in the second half, and Brown, a Central Catholic High alum, scored 17 of her 28 points in the fourth to help secure the victory.
“That was an awesome effort, and I told them at the beginning of the game that we have to be patient, but also look to be aggressive,” New Orleans Coach Keeshawn Davenport said. “I think the intangible was what caused us to win the game. I saw a team that had the will to win.”
After leading for the entire first half, New Orleans went 0-for-10 from the field in the third quarter and got out-scored 19-9. The Privateers were able to rely on the free throw line, sinking 9-of-10 shots in the stanza.
Nicholls led 45-38 heading into the fourth.
Colonels’ leading scorer, LiAnn McCarthy, fouled out with 7:31 left and the Colonels still leading by seven.
The Privateers, shortly afterward, went on a 9-0 spurt to push back ahead 52-50. The run was finished with an Alexis Martin bucket assisted by Mariah Wright, who played 10 minutes in the second half.
The Privateers raced out to an early 11-2 lead as the early pressure forced Nicholls into nine first-quarter turnovers. New Orleans also scored four second-chance points during their early run, which was capped by a Brown three-pointer. The Privateers held an 18-10 lead after the first quarter as they shot 50 percent from the field.
New Orleans continued to hold the lead throughout the second quarter as Nicholls committed 19 turnovers in the first half.
The Privateers led by as many as 10 points on two different occasions in the first half.
However, the Privateers also committed 15 turnovers in the first half.
The opening 20 minutes of the game ended when Nicholls got a steal and converted a fast-break lay-up just before time expired. New Orleans still led, but their advantage was cut to 29-26 at halftime.
“We knew the full court pressure was going to be key for us,” Davenport said in the release. “I’ve got to complement our point guards for allowing us to mix up defenses. I think Danielle Davis did a great job, and Mariah Wright finished the game with great leadership.”
In the game, New Orleans limited the Colonels to 30.5 percent from the field and just a 24.3 percent clip in the second half.
Martin had seven points, four steals and three assists, while Halie Matthews added six rebounds and three blocks along with the go-ahead basket. Yasmin Taylor led the rebounding effort with nine boards as the Privateers out-rebounded Nicholls, 40-37.
Nicholls was led by McCarthy, who fouled out with nine points. Marina Lilly, Cassidy Barrios, Tia Charles and Hope Pawlowski each added eight points. Lilly led the Colonels with nine rebounds. Taylor Morrison added four assists and four steals.
The Privateers will face McNeese State next on Homecoming. Tip is slated for 4 p.m. Saturday.