University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Cajuns Drop Heartbreaker to South Alabama
2/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MOBILE, AL - Louisiana-Lafayette was on the verge of a second Sun Belt Conference victory, only to let a 16-point second half lead slip away, in falling by a final score of 55-51 at South Alabama on Thursday night.
After taking a six-point lead into the locker room at halftime, the Cajuns began the second half by outscoring South Alabama 6-1 in the first five minutes. A backdoor lay-up by USA with 14 minutes remaining was their first basket from the floor and cut the Cajuns lead to 32-23.
Sharee Glenn extended the Cajuns lead to 37-23 with 12 minutes to play on a lay-up and a three-pointer.
With 10:17 remaining and the Cajuns leading 39-23, Sarah Richey was called for her fourth foul.
The Jaguars went on an immediate 10-0 run. During the run, Brooke Williams picked-up her fourth foul as well.
Richey went back into the game and hit a three-pointer to momentarily slow down South Alabama. USA came right back with three more baskets to close within 42-39.
With four fouls on Richey and Williams, as well as four on Ashley Blanche, South Alabama was able to apply pressure inside, as well as at the point.
Several turnovers by the Cajuns, coupled with USA?s ability to crash the boards, created several offensive rebounds and second chance baskets for the Jaguars.
Teneisha Russell?s basket with 3:20 remaining gave USA a 45-44 lead, their first lead of the second half.
Sara Carter made four free throws down the stretch to preserve the victory for the Jaguars.
UL Lafayette was led by 11 points apiece from Richey and Glenn. Williams contributed eight points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
South Alabama used 18 points from Carter, eight of which came from the free throw line. Shawntay Smith added 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Officiating dictated the pace for most of the game. The Cajuns were whistled for 24 fouls to 11 against the Jaguars. Accordingly, South Alabama shot 27 free throws to only three by UL Lafayette.
The Cajuns had a much better first half than the last time these two teams met gave. UL Lafayette led by six after the first 20 minutes, as opposed to trailing by 17 points when the teams met in Lafayette back on Jan. 9.
The Cajuns used a 7-0 run early in the first half to overcome a short deficit in taking an 18-14 lead with six minutes remaining in the first half.
After the Jaguars closed to within one point, UL Lafayette upped their lead to nine points with 2:30 remaining on a three-pointer by Sharee Glenn, a basket from Ashley Blanche and a three-pointer by Charlotte Green.
South Alabama scored the final three points of the half to close within 26-20 at the break.
UL Lafayette (51) Glenn 4-13 0-0 11; Richey 4-8 2-2 11; Williams 4-8 0-0 8; Blanche 3-7 1-1 7; Green 2-10 0-0 5; White 2-3 0-0 4; Tolston 1-5 0-0 3; Petrakova 1-6 0-0 2. Totals 21-60 3-3 51.
South Alabama (55) Carter 4-7 8-10 18; Smith 5-10 0-1 10; Russell 3-16 3-6 9; Delk 3-12 1-2 7; McDole 3-4 0-0 6; Mitchell 2-9 1-7 5; McGinnis 0-3 0-0 0; Bell 0-1 0-0 0; Stewart 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 20-65 13-26 55.
Halftime- ULL 26, USA 20. 3-point goals-ULL 6-23 (Glenn 3-7; Tolston 1-4; Richey 1-4; Green 1-6; Petrakova 0-1; Blanche 0-1), USA 2-14 (Carter 2-4; Russell 0-1; Delk 0-3; Mitchell 0-1; McGinnis 0-2; Stewart 0-3). Fouled out--ULL-Williams, USA-None. Rebounds-ULL 46 (Williams 10), USA 46 (Smith 11). Assists-ULL 9 (Blanche 5), USA 5 (Mitchell 2). Total fouls-ULL 24, USA 11. A-802
-Ragin' Cajuns-
