NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Privateers used a 15-0 run late in the fourth quarter on Thursday night to pick up an 88-78 win over the Texas A&M University-Commerce women's basketball team at Lakefront Arena.
 
Thursday night was the Southland Conference opener for both teams. The Lions have lost three in a row and fall to 5-6 on the season, being under .500 for the first time this season, while the Privateers improve to 4-8, winning over A&M-Commerce for the first time.
 
The Lions made three of their first five shots from the distance to start the game and led 22-16, but the Privateers held the Lions scoreless for the final 1:42 of the first quarter and went on a 6-0 run of their own to tie the game at 22 right at the buzzer.
 
Both Mia Deck (Frisco – Lone Star) and Ahmya Boyce (Newport News, Va.) recorded eight points in the first quarter. Deck shot 3 for 3 in the first quarter and picked up four rebounds as well.
 
After an 11-0 run by New Orleans to take its largest lead of the game, the Lions responded with a 12-0 run of their own to move back up, 34-27. The Lions had a lead as big as 12 in the second quarter as they shot 4 for 7 from deep and led 45-36 at halftime.
 
Deck was well on her way to a double-double with 13 points, on 4 for 6 shooting, and seven rebounds at the break. A&M-Commerce shot 15 for 28 from the field and 7 for 12 from deep.
 
New Orleans trailed 50-40 in the third quarter, but went on a 10-0 run in a three-minute stretch to tie the game at 50. The Lions had a stretch of 3:31 where they were limited to just four field goal attempts and made just one of those.
 
UNO took a lead of 53-52 with 3:30 left in the third quarter, which was its first lead since 7:29 left in the second quarter and went up 55-52. The Lions scored six of the next seven to regain the lead. New Orleans entered the fourth quarter with a 59-58 lead thanks to a three pointer just before the buzzer.
 
The Lions scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to move up front 65-59. Over the next two minutes, the Privateers went on a 7-0 run to re-take the lead once again. The Lions had just two three pointers made in the second half until the final minute.
 
At the 4:45 mark of the fourth quarter, the Lions tied the game at 69 on a jumper by Boyce. The Privateers put together a 15-0 run until 30 seconds left in the game to take control of the game. The Lions shot 3 for 3 from deep in the final 30 seconds, but the deficit never dropped below 10.
 
This is the first loss for A&M-Commerce since February 11, 2022, when it had a 10-point lead in a game. The Lions had won their last six games in which they had a double-digit lead.
 
Mary Delgado (Miami, Fla.) had a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists. She is the first Lion to record double-digit assists since 2021. Deck recorded a double-double as well, scoring 23 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Boyce added 17 points, five rebounds, and four steals, while Jordyn Newsome (Irving – MacArthur) totaled 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
 
For the Privateers, Brianna Ellis scored 24 points and Alexis Calderon added 22 points. The Privateers had 28 attempts at the free throw line, making 24 of them, while the Lions shot 6 for 8 at the line, none coming in the second half.


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The Lions return home to host the next three conference games at home, beginning with McNeese on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Tickets for all home games can be purchased at LionAthletics.com/Tickets.