HAMMOND, La. – With the 1976-77 AIAW National Championship team looking on, the Southeastern Louisiana women's basketball team shot 50 percent from the floor on the way to an 85-70 Southland Conference victory over New Orleans on Alumni Day Saturday in the University Center.
 
On a day dedicated to the 40^th anniversary of the program's only national championship, the currently Lady Lions (5-19, 3-10 Southland) played like some of the historic teams that that preceded them. Southeastern led wire-to-wire and by as many as 25 on the way to the victory over the visiting Privateers (12-11, 7-6 Southland).
 
The loss snapped a four-game losing streak for Southeastern. It also marked the Lady Lions' first win over their in-state league rivals since the 2013-14 season.
 
Southeastern was led by junior guard Taylin Underwood who finished with a game-high 30 points. Underwood was joined in double figures by freshman guard Charliee Dugas and junior guard Bre Warren who added 21 and 13 points, respectively.
 
Freshman guard Tyler Morrison paced SLU with eight rebounds, as the Lady Lions finished with a 40-35 rebounding advantage. Southeastern also forced UNO into 20 turnovers, as Underwood and Warren had three steals apiece.
 
UNO was led by Randi Brown, as the Southland Conference's leading scorer, finished with 29 points. Hallie Matthews came off the bench with 11 points and 14 rebounds to secure a double-double for the Privateers.
 
Southeastern blistered the nets for 75.0 percent (9-for-12) shooting on the way to building a 32-22 first quarter lead. In the second quarter, it was the defense that helped the Lady Lions build their lead.
 
SLU held UNO to 4-for-17 shooting in the quarter, outscoring the Privateers, 19-9, in the second quarter. Underwood scored 18 in the opening half to send Southeastern into the halftime break up, 51-30.
 
UNO cut the lead to as close as 14 late in the third quarter. However, SLU squashed any hope of a comeback with an 8-0 quarter-closing run to take a commanding 74-52 lead into the break. The Privateers would get no closer than 14 in the final quarter.  
 
Southeastern will return to the road on Thursday. The Lady Lions will travel to Natchitoches for a 5:15 p.m. Southland Conference contest at Northwestern State. The game can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio app.