Preview: Struggling Southland Rivals Meet in New Orleans NEW ORLEANS (Interstat) — Two teams seeking to escape the Southland Conference cellar will meet Thursday when the Southeastern Louisiana Lions visit the New Orleans Privateers in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game. The matchup at Kiefer Lakefront Arena features programs with a combined 7-46 record. New Orleans (3-24, 2-12 Southland) sits just below Southeastern Louisiana (4-22, 3-11) in the league standings. Both are eliminated from conference tournament contention, adding pride as the primary motivator. The Lions won their most recent game on Feb. 7 but have since dropped four straight, including a 77-54 home loss to Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Saturday. Guard Mia Ramos has been a consistent bright spot, averaging 11.1 points over her last eight games. She posted 14 points, five rebounds and five assists in the loss to UTRGV. The Privateers have lost three consecutive games since a two-game win streak earlier this month. They are coming off an 84-54 road defeat to Lamar on Saturday. Guard Lauren Banks leads New Orleans, averaging 9.6 points per game in conference play. She scored 22 points in a Jan. 29 loss to Texas A&M-Commerce, showcasing her scoring potential. In the season’s first meeting on Jan. 8 in Hammond, New Orleans edged Southeastern Louisiana 64-63. The Privateers have lost nine of their last ten games overall, while the Lions have dropped eight of their last ten. With both teams focusing on building momentum for next season, Thursday’s contest offers a final opportunity for a conference victory and local bragging rights. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST.