University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Petrakova Paces Cajuns to Exhibition Win
11/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sophomore center Anna Petrakova had a team-high 19 points and Brooke Williams grabbed a double-double, scoring 13 points and collecting 12 rebounds, to lead the Cajuns offensive output. UL Lafayette shot over 40 percent (24-for-59) for the second straight outing and limited the Jaguars to a 32.8 clip.
Andrea Jackson's 17 points off the bench paced the Jaguars offensive efforts. Shante Johnson and Tracey Bovgere each had 10 points to give the Jaguars three players in double-figures.
The first half was nip-and-tuck throughout. UL Lafayette jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first few minutes of the half. The Jaguars got their first lead of the game, 7-6, at 16:51 on a three-pointer from Bovgere. Michelle Murray stretched Houston's lead to 9-6 at 15:26.
Petrakova hit a three pointer at 14:23 to give the Cajuns the lead again at 11-9. Five lead changes and three ties later and the Jaguars led 23-22 at 4:16.
Louisiana-Lafayette made its longest run of the first half following that basket, a 12-0 run that gave the Cajuns their largest lead of the game 34-23 at 2:46 and one they would not relinquish. Ten of the 12 points came on free throws, all of them consecutive. A Tammie White layup to extend the streak to 12 points broke the string of 10 straight free throws.
Houston answered with a 5- 0 run to cut the lead to 34-28 with 1:30 to play in the first half. UL Lafayette led 38-32 at the break.
In what was a physical first half, 23 fouls were called and 33 free throws were attempted. The Cajuns were 18-for-24 from the charity stripe during the game's first 20 minutes. The Cajuns struggle from the field, tough, connecting on just 9-for-27 from the field (33.3 percent). The Jaguars stayed in the game on 11-of-28 shooting (39.3 percent).
The Cajuns defense played well once again. UL Lafayette forced Houston into 13 first-half turnovers and had nine steals during that opening frame.
Louisiana-Lafayette opened the second half on a 10-3 run that featured outstanding transition baskets to extend its lead to 48-35 wthi 14:17 left to play.
Houston would trim the lead to five points at 56-51 with 8:41 to play, but the Cajuns refused to give up the lead. UL Lafayette responded with a 9-2 run over the next three minutes to stretch their lead back to double digits.
The Jaguars would creep to within four points with 42 seconds to play, but the Cajuns defense stood tall and the offense clinched the team's second exhibition win of the season with four free throws in the final 29 seconds.
UL Lafayette ended the game with a 47-41 rebound advantage and shot 15-for-32 (46.9 percent) from the floor in the final 20 minutes. The Cajuns were 23-of-32 from the free throw line for a 71.9 percentage.
Louisiana-Lafayette will now open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. against Nicholls State in Earl K. Long Gym on the UL Lafayette campus.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
