Women's Basketball Marks One-Point Win Over SUNO to Open Season

SAN ANTONIO (Oct. 29, 2024) – The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) women's basketball team won a close game against Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) 78-77 to open the season on Tuesday night. The Saints are 1-0, while the Knights drop to 0-3.

History

The Saints were 2-0 against the Knights prior to the game. 

Basics

Carlea Owens led the Saints in scoring in the first quarter with six points. She also had two assists and one steal. The Saints scored 23 points in the frame and limited the Knights to 15. The Knights responded in the second quarter with 15 points. The Saints scored 13 with seven points from Samantha Fields. OLLU led 36-30 at halftime, and Fields scored double-digit points with 10. 

The Knights outscored the Saints in the third quarter 25-22. SUNO shot 64.3 percent from the field and had nine rebounds. Julia Plata scored 11 of OLLU's points, three of which were three-pointers. The Saints took a three-point lead into the final frame. The Knights rallied to lead by two points with 1:38 left in the fourth quarter. Plata hit a huge three-pointer to put the Saints up by one. They forced a turnover by SUNO, and Plata missed a three-point attempt following the steal. The Knights had a chance with seconds left to win the game, but Jordan Harris missed a jump shot, and the Saints held on to grab the victory. 

Offensive/defensive standouts

Plata led the Saints with 23 points. Alexandra Westerdijk Martin grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. She also had four assists.

Harris led SUNO with 22 points. Jinaye Pittman had a team-high nine rebounds. Jordan Harris and McKenna Harris led the squad with six assists apiece.

Inside the box

OLLU combined for 26-of-67 shooting for 38.8 percent, 12-of-33 from three-point range for 36.4 percent and 14-of-18 from the free-throw line for 77.8 percent. SUNO shot 28-of-61 for 45.9 percent, 8-of-25 three-pointers for 32 percent, and 13-of-17 from the free-throw line for 76.5 percent.

The Saints grabbed 28 rebounds, while SUNO collected 38.

Up next

The Saints play at Wayland Baptist University in the Queens Classic on Nov. 6 at 6 p.m.

Hear from Head Coach Tanya Ray and watch highlights.