NEW ORLEANS - Southeastern Louisiana opened the second half with a 20-2 run on the way to a 71-59 victory over Richmond Saturday afternoon in the championship game of the Four Points by Sheraton New Orleans Airport UNO Lady Privateer Invitational being held at the Human Performance Center.
Tournament MVP Brenita Williams led the Lady Lions (5-3) with 17 points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Brooke Necaise also added 17 points for Southeastern, while senior guard Tina Wilson chipped in 12 points for the Lady Lions, who won their fourth consecutive game. Richmond fell to 3-6 overall on the season, despite 18 points and six rebounds from Christina Campion.
"I am so proud of our team's effort tonight," Southeastern head coach Lori Davis Jones commented. "We came out with the right attitude in the second half. Our players are understanding what it takes to win against very good competition.
"I think this is very important for our team to win the tournament," Jones continued. "This is a great way to prepare for postseason play and gives our players a chance to experience what it will take to be successful in the Southland Conference Tournament."
Southeastern out-scored Richmond, 42-22, in the second half. The Lady Lions hit 56.5 percent (13-for-23) from the floor in the final 20 minutes and 51 percent (26-for-51) for the game.
Southeastern turned an eight-point halftime lead into a 10-point lead early in the second half. Richmond would not go away quietly, however, as a jumper by Campion cut the lead to 58-55 with 6:40 left in the game.
That's as close as Richmond would get, however. Southeastern went on a 10-4 run over the next three minutes. The run was capped by a Cain jumper to put the Lady Lions up, 65-57, with 3:33 remaining.
Richmond cut the lead to six on a layup by Campion, but Southeastern would not be denied. Senior point guard Whitnee Miller found a cutting Williams for a layup to put the Lady Lions back up by eight with 1:38 remaining.
Necaise and Wilson each hit a pair of free throws for the Lady Lions to clinch the win.
Richmond broke out to a 37-29 halftime lead, behind 10 points from Campion. The Spiders connected on 50 percent (14-for-28) from the floor in the opening half to establish the eight-point cushion at the break. Williams and Necaise each scored six points for the Lady Lions in the opening period.
Southeastern will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 9, heading to Shreveport for a 2 p.m. non-conference game at Centenary.
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 71, RICHMOND 59
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA (5-3)
Necaise 5-7 3-3 17, Williams 8-14 1-2 17, Wilson 3-7 4-4 12; Cain 4-7 0-0 8, Carlin 3-7 2-2 8, Gross 1-1 3-5 5, Labat 1-3 0-0 2, Miller 1-3 0-2 2, Porter 0-0 0-0 0, Iglesias 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-51 13-18 71.
RICHMOND (3-6)
Campion 8-12 2-2 18, McKnight 3-12 2-2 9, Hendrix 1-2 6-8 8, Powell 3-4 0-0 7, Hawkins 1-7 4-5 6, Bell 2-7 1-2 5, Holzer 1-1 0-0 2, Williams 1-10 0-2 2, Thomas 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 21-57 15-21 59.
Halftime Score - UR 37, SLU 29. 3-point goals-SLU 6-13 (Necaise 4-5, Wilson 2-5,
Labat 0-1, Miller 0-1, Iglesias 0-1), UR 2-15 (Powell 1-1, McKnight 1-6, Hawkins 0-1, Bell 0-1, Williams 0-4, Campion 0-2). Fouled out-- None. Rebounds-SLU 31 (Williams 7), UR 38 (Hendrix 8). Assists-SLU 12 (Williams 4), UR 9 (Williams 3). Total fouls-SLU 14, UR 15. A-190.
Four Points by Sheraton UNO Lady Privateer Invitational All-Tournament Team
Brenita Williams, Southeastern Louisiana (MVP)
Kristy Carlin, Southeastern Louisiana Christina Campion, Richmond
Sarah Williams, Richmond
Le'Della English, UNO
Whitney Tossie, Appalachian State
