University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
South Carolina
Gamecocks win over Cajuns
12/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Columbia, S.C. - The No. 18 South Carolina Lady Gamecocks defeated Louisiana-Lafayette by a final score of 70-41 in women's basketball action on Wednesday night.
South Carolina improves to 8-0 this season, winning by an average of 23.9 points per game. UL Lafayette falls to 2-5.
USC started with a flurry from Kelly Morrone, as the junior guard hit three consecutive three-point shots to stake the Lady Gamecocks to an 8-0 lead.
After a pair of free throws from Charlotte Green, USC continued to build their lead, rolling to a 17-2 edge. The lead expanded to 40-11 at the half, as the Cajuns could not hit their shots and frequently turned the ball over.
UL Lafayette shot just 2-for-22 from the floor and committed 15 turnovers in the first half. USC nailed 53 percent of their shots (17-32), including 6-of-9 from behind the arc. Jocelyn Penn led USC at the half with 16 points, while Morrone had 12 points.
The second half began with the Cajuns hitting six of their first 10 shots, but the Lady Gamecocks connected on six shots in the same span, including another three-pointer by Morrone, to increase their lead to 55-25 with 13 remaining in the contest.
The Cajuns made a late 10-2 run sparked by three-pointers from Ashley Blanche and Charlotte Green, but the Lady Gamecocks lead was too large to overcome.
Sarah Richey led the Cajuns with 12 points, all of which came in the second half. Anna Petrakova set a career mark with 12 rebounds, while adding nine points and three blocks. Green scored eight points, added nine rebounds and a team-high three assists.
The Cajuns will fly to Ohio on Thursday to play in the Bearcat Invitational hosted by Cincinnati. Louisiana-Lafayette is scheduled to play Savannah State (1-10) on Saturday, while facing either SMU or the host Bearcats on Sunday.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
