Cajuns Finish Non-Conference Slate Against Southeastern

Game 11

Louisiana (6-4) vs. Southeastern Louisiana (1-10)
Date: Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013
Time: 5 p.m.
Site: Cajundome
Radio: ESPN1420 (Steve Peloquin)
TV: None
Live Video Stream/Stats: www.RaginCajuns.com
Series: Southeastern leads the series 28-13.
Last Meeting: Louisiana 63, Southeastern Louisiana 54
Louisiana season tickets available at RaginCajuns.com and by calling the Cajundome (337) 265-2357.

THE COACHES:
LOUISIANA
GARRY BRODHEAD
At Louisiana: 15-25 (2nd Season)
Overall: Same
vs. Southeastern: First Meeting

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA
LORI DAVIS JONES
At Southeastern: 138-188 (11th Season)
Overall: 316-285 (19th Season)
vs. Louisiana: 3-5

Game Notes

Setting the Scene: After taking 10 days off from games for a holiday break, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team returns to the hardwood, to take on in-state foe, Southeastern Louisiana in their final non-conference bout of the regular season. The Cajuns are 6-4 thus far in non-conference play with a 3-1 record against in-state opponents. They are led by sophomores Keke Veal and Sylvana Okde. The duo is averaging 11.1 and 10.2 points per game, respectively. Fellow sophomore, Jasmin Mills leads the team in rebounds, averaging 7.2 rebounds, while starting all ten games.

About the Opponent: Southeastern Louisiana is 1-10 on the season, losing their last 10 games after winning the season opener against Mobile. They are coming off a nine-game break, after dropping a non-conference affair at Mississippi State, 109-57, on Dec. 20. The Lady Lions will also open conference play following this game, taking on McNeese State on Jan. 2. They are led by a trifecta of scorers in Symone Miller, Nanna Pool and Aja Gibson. The trio averages 14.4, 12.1 and 10.9 points per game, while starting all 11 thus far in the season. Pool also leads the team in rebounds with 8.8 per game.

Chairmen of the Offensive Board: The Ragin' Cajuns lead the Sun Belt in offensive rebounds with 16.9 per game, an honor that they came just short of in 2013, finishing second to just Middle Tennessee. They lead Troy by 0.6 rebounds a game, and are almost two full rebounds per game ahead of Arkansas State, who sits in third with 15.0.

Off the Bench: Freshman guard Jaylyn Gordon has played in all 10 games this season, starting two, while averaging 9.6 points a game. In games she has come off the bench, she averages 9.5 points, 2.8 assists, 2.4 turnovers and 1.1 steals in 23.9 minutes. She leads all non-starters in points, minutes, and steals per game, while leading the entire team with 2.9 assists a game.

To Their Defense: The Cajuns are second in the Sun Belt allowing 62.0 points per game. They trail UALR by 1.7 points (58.3). The Cajuns hold a +3.7 scoring margin, ranking second in the Sun Belt and just 3.1 points/game behind league-leader WKU (+6.8).

From Downtown: Sophomore guard, Sylvana Okde hit 74 3-pointers in her freshman season, marking the fourth-highest season in Ragin' Cajuns history. To put into perspective, she has already cracked the top-10 list for 3-point shots made in a career, ranking ninth in just her first season. She became the first player since Rhonda McCullough with 70-or-more 3-pointers in a season in 1989-90. McCullough also holds the all-time record for 3-pointers in a season, knocking down 102 triples in the 1987-88 season. As a sophomore, Okde has added to that total, hitting 21 of 70 shots from behind the arc for 94 career triples. She now ranks 8th all-time at Louisiana for three-pointers in a career.

Defending the Three: Louisiana ranks 11th in the nation in 3-point defense, holding opponents to 25.0 percent from 3-point land. They currently rank first in the Sun Belt and among teams in Louisiana, holding opponents to 27-of-108 from behind the arc, while making 52 triples of their own. Oklahoma State leads the nation in 3-point defense, holding their opponents to 20.6 percent from behind the arc.

Like she stole Something: Keke Veal averages 3.2 steals per game through the first ten games, leading both the team and the conference. She sits in a four-way tie for 11th in the nation with Brittany Boyd (California), Tyonna Snow (Missouri State) and Desyree Thomas (Eastern Michigan). She also leads the Sun Belt and is second among players from Louisiana colleges, behind Chrisstasia Walter of Louisiana Tech (3.55). D.J. Fowler of Charleston Southern, leads the nation with 4.11 per game.

What's Next? The Ragin' Cajuns will open up Sun Belt Conference action on Jan. 4, when they travel to Monroe to take on ULM in game one of a doubleheader at 2 p.m. The game will be followed by the schools' men's programs at 5. The Cajuns will return to Lafayette to take on Texas State on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Cajundome.

-- Ragin Cajuns --