University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
THE JACKSON BABES (exhibition)
Blanche, Petrakova Pace Cajuns Past Jackson Babes 69-66
11/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
November 13, 2004
LAFAYETTE - Behind four players in double figures, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team was able to hold off the Jackson Babes 69-66 here Saturday night at Earl K. Long Gym.
It was the Cajuns' final exhibition game before embarking on a two-week trip that begins Friday against UC Davis at the Radisson Inn Classic in Colorado Springs, Colo.
After trailing by six at the half, the Cajuns began the second half on a 9-2 run to take a 42-41 lead. It was the Cajuns' first lead since the 8:26 mark of the first half.
From there, the teams exchanged leads eight times, with neither able to grab a substantial edge. Jackson led 50-46 with 13:09 to play, but Louisiana took a 64-61 lead with just 5:40 remaining.
The Cajuns' transition offense and athleticism helped them stay in front against a Babes team with only six players on their roster. Solid defense and just four second half turnovers kept the Cajuns in front.
With UL up two points, 67-65, JB's Laquan Stallworth went to the free throw line to tie the game with 36 seconds remaining. Stallworth made the first, but missed the second as Anna Petrakova grabbed the rebound. Ashley Blanche dribbled the ball up the court to bleed time off the clock and was fouled with 17 seconds remaining.
Blanche hit two free throws to give the Cajuns a 69-66 cushion.
Jackson's desperation three-point attempt to tie the game fell short, as Sherita Anderson grabbed the rebound as time expired.
Blanche led the Cajuns with 15 points, while Petrakova added 14 points and 10 boards. Alexandra Kotta and Bernie Tolston added 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Pam Hudson and Cynthia Hall led all scorers with 17 points. Hall and Ta'Keshia Lewis led the Babes with nine boards.
UL Lafayette didn't allow Jackson to score until the 16:56 mark of the first half, after the Cajuns had taken a 6-0 lead. Over the next five minutes, both teams exchanged buckets.
Jackson got as close as one point, 14-13, before the Cajuns went on an 8-2 run to take a 22-15 lead with 11:50 left in the first.
The Cajuns' led by as many as seven points until Jackson took its first lead at the 7:55 mark as part of a 17-1 run. Five minutes later, the Babes held a 32-23 lead.
UL Lafayette closed the gap to as little as five, but Jackson was able to keep its distance to take a 39-33 halftime lead.
Hall led all scorers with 13 points in the first half. Petrakova led the Cajuns with nine points and seven rebounds.
The Cajuns shot just 16.7 percent (3-of-18) from beyond the arc in the first half, while shooting 11-of-16 from the rest of the field.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
