University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Southeastern Louisiana
Women's Basketball 1-0
11/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HAMMOND - Excellent half court defense helped Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns to a 57-43 victory at Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday night.
The victory was the Cajuns first win in a season opener in three years. The win also extends UL Lafayette's regular season winning streak to four games dating back to last season. The last time the Cajuns won four straight regular season contests was during the 1997-98 season.
The Cajuns held the Lady Lions scoreless for three different three-minute stretches, a stretch of 4:35 and another stretch lasting over five minutes. The Cajuns held Southeastern to 25.9 percent shooting from the floor, while connecting at 45.5 percent from the floor and 55.6 from behind the arc.
Two three-pointers by Southeastern to open the second half brought the hosts within four points, 31-27, but the Cajuns responded with a 9-2 run.
Sharee Glenn's jumper, followed by five points from Ashley Blanche, and a jumper by Anna Petrakova helped UL Lafayette up their lead to 40-29 with 12:30 to play.
The Cajuns lead grew as large as 48-34 with 7:30 to play, but Tish Guy's three-pointer momentarily gave the Lady Lions hope. Bernette Tolston's sixth three-pointer of the game answered, but Guy answered right back with another triple.
Petrakova then took over the game for the next minute. Her offensive rebound and put-back gave the Cajuns a 53-40 lead. The junior then grabbed a tough defensive rebound and nailed a three-pointer to give UL Lafayette a commanding 56-40 edge with 3:26 left in the game.
Tolston led the Cajuns with 20 points on 6-11 shooting from behind the arc. Glenn added 12 points and eight rebounds, while Petrakova chipped in 11 points, eight rebounds, four blocks, two assists and two steals.
The Cajuns moved out to a slow 8-2 lead six minutes into the game.
A 6-0 spurt prompted by a three-pointer from Tolston, her third of the first half, helped the Cajuns to a 16-5 lead with 10:20 to play in the opening stanza.
After a Nakita Scott free throw, the Lady Lions used a 7-0 run in 2:20 to close within 17-12.
Petrakova's three-pointer stopped the run, but Guy's eighth point of the first half, a three-pointer, put the score at 20-15 Cajuns with 3:25 remaining.
Alexandra Kotta's basket and a free throw from Trina Johnson increased the Cajuns lead to 23-15. The teams traded baskets until Shanna Achord hit a free throw with eight seconds left to pull the hosts within seven.
Tuesday's game marked the first of
ten straight road contests for UL Lafayette. The Cajuns
face Maryland-Eastern Shore on Friday in the opening
game of the Maryland Terrapin Classic.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
