January 23, 2011

NEW ORLEANS, La.- Savannah State placed four players in double figures and shot 57.4 percent from the field in a 84-44 win over New Orleans in Lakefront Arena.

The victory lifts SSU to 11-8 while the Privateers fell to 1-17.

Fila Smith and Jasmine Kirkland both came off the bench to lead the Lady Tigers with 13 points each. It was a career-high for Smith while it matched Kirkland's career-high when she scored 13 points against Maryland-Eastern Shore on January 5. Darice Fountaine and Ezinne Kalu each added 11 points.

Kirkland chipped in three blocks while Fountaine had six rebounds and four assists while Kalu contributed five assists and five steals.

Savannah State led 9-6 but then scored 17 unanswered points to go ahead 26-6 with 10:52 left in the opening period.

UNO got within 15 with 7:41 on the clock but the Lady Tigers closed the half with a 13-9 spurt and took a 43-24 advantage into the locker room.

SSU scored the first 11 points for the second half to expand their cushion to 54-24 with 16:41 remaining.

The Lady Tigers led by 34 with just over 14 minutes left but UNO cut their deficit to 60-35 after a 9-0 run.

UNO went nine minutes without a field goal as Savannah State built a 76-38 lead with just under five minutes left.

Mirjam Sipos was the only New Orleans player with double figures with a game-high 15 points.

SSU out-rebounded the Privateers 43 to 24.