Sophomores shine in UNO loss

The sophomore tandem of Asia Woods and Jada Swafford established a number of season highs and kept New Orleans (1-5) in the game.
However, the Privateers dropped a close one to Jacksonville State (5-2), 59-54, Thursday night at Lakefront Arena.
Although New Orleans shot a frigid 37 percent (23-of-62) from the field, Woods (6-of-8) and Swafford (4-of-6) combined for a 55 percent clip. Woods, from Houston, Texas, led all scorers with 13 points, while Swafford, of Alexandria, had eight points, four assists and two steals.
“I made the change and put Asia Woods in the starting lineup, and she came out blasting on tonight,” New Orleans Head Coach Keeshawn Davenport said in a news release. “The play of those two sophomores was a big positive tonight, and it’s something to look forward to.”
BY THE NUMBERS
Woods got her first start of the season and collected season highs in minutes (35), points (13), rebounds (five), assists (three), and steals (three). Swafford grabbed season highs in minutes (25), field goals made (four), assists (four) and steals (two).
Randi Brown, a Central Catholic alum and the nation’s fourth-leading scorer, had an off-night, scoring 11 points (13 below her average). She shot just 4-of-23 from the floor.
New Orleans had 14 steals, led by Brown with seven thefts.
Up next for the Privateers is a road game Saturday against 6-1 Missouri, ranked 19th in the latest Associated Press Poll. The game can be seen on SEC Network+.