University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
vs. Arkansas
Arkansas Uses Defense, Quickness to Halt Cajuns' Four-Game Winning Streak, 82-68
12/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
December 16, 2004
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Both Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns and the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks traveled to Little Rock, Ark. looking for an 8-1 start. The Cajuns only loss came to No. 7 Stanford in the Great Alaska Shootout, while the Lady Razorbacks only defeat came vs. No. 15 Purdue in the Islander Classic.
Arkansas, one of the most athletic and antagonistic teams in the nation, used superior quickness and aggression to top Louisiana 82-68 on Thursday evening.
Controlling the ball was the difference, as the Lady Razorbacks had 12 steals and forced 24 Cajuns turnovers. UA committed only 11 turnovers and out-rebounded UL 37-29.
UL shot 54.2 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three-point range, holding UA to 46.8 percent. The Cajuns shot even better in the second half, 68.2 percent from the floor and 62.5 percent from three-point range, but a very deep Arkansas squad physically wore UL down. Thirteen Lady Razorbacks saw playing time, with nine playing more than 10 minutes.
Despite the loss, Louisiana (7-2) ties two other clubs, the 1983-84 and 1985-86 teams, for the best record in school history after nine games. The '83-84 squad advanced to a 13-2 record before their next defeat.
Up next for the Cajuns is a home meeting with Sam Houston State on Saturday at 2pm in Earl K. Long Gym.
UL brought a seven-point deficit into the second half, but it was quickly trimmed to three points after a pair of Bernette Tolston three-pointers.
Arkansas then scored six unanswered points, but Tolston responded with another triple and Tiffany Washington added a lay-up to cut the Lady Razorbacks lead to four.
UA used another spurt to up their lead to nine, 50-41, with 14:12 remaining, but the Cajuns closed their deficit back to five thanks to quick baskets from Ashley Blanche and Anna Petrakova.
Back came the Lady Razorbacks, swiftly boosting their advantage to 10 points and forcing Blanche into two fouls in six seconds. The Cajuns point guard was forced to the bench with four personal fouls at the 12:24 mark.
Without Blanche, the Cajuns relied on Tolston to carry the offense. The senior scored 10 of the Cajuns next 17 points, keeping UL within 10 points, 65-55 with 6:49 to play.
Arkansas slowly pulled away from there, outscoring UL 17-7 in the next 5:21 to take an 82-62 edge with 1:28 remaining.
Petrakova led the Cajuns with 22 points while Tolston had 19 points, all in the second half. Onna Charles was the third Cajun in double figures, scoring 11 points, all in the first half. Tolston led the all players with eight rebounds.
Sheree Thompson and Sarah Pfeifer led UA with 20 and 19 points, respectively. Both shot 9-of-12 from the floor, while the remaining 11 Lady Razorbacks combined for 18-of-53 shooting (34 percent).
The Cajuns held an early 13-9 lead thanks to good ball movement and sharp passing. Four different players found the basket leading to the Cajuns small edge.
Ten Lady Razorbacks had already seen the court in the game's first 10 minutes, as the fresh rotation applied intense pressure and started to tire the Cajuns. Arkansas began to force turnovers and beat the Cajuns to the boards and to loose balls.
UA used a 9-3 run to take a 22-20 lead with 8:34 remaining in the first half, Arkansas' first lead since the 17:02 mark.
The Cajuns scoring drought ran to 6:14 before Petrakova's basket cut the Cajuns deficit to 28-22 with 4:03 remaining in the first stanza.
Charles then traded baskets with UA over the next two minutes before Blanche added a free throw, but Kristin Moore's bucket at the end of the half gave the hosts a 35-28 lead at the break.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
