University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Nebraska
Costly Miscues Prove Too Much, Cajuns Fall 81-70 to Huskers
12/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
December 20, 2004
LINCOLN, Neb.- In perhaps their worst defensive performance of the season, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns fell 81-70 to Nebraska on Monday night in Lincoln.
The Cajuns trailed by double figures for almost the entire second half, and each time UL made a run, Nebraska responded offensively in a way that the Cajuns could not stop.
UL started the second half with an 8-2 run to trim the Nebraska lead to eight, 44-36, only three minutes into the final stanza.
Bernette Tolston, Onna Charles, Anna Petrakova and Ashley Blanche connected in succession for UL.
Then, in a sequence that defined the game, UL was called for a five-second violation, gave up an easy lay-up on the defensive end and then missed lay-ups on two straight offensive possessions.
A 7-2 run by the Cajuns put UL back into the game, 56-49, at the 9:40 mark, but the Huskers countered with an 11-0 run to grab a 67-49 edge.
Louisiana made another run, outscoring Nebraska 9-2 in a 2:06 span to trim the Huskers lead to 69-58 with 4:19 remaining.
Nebraska again used a spurt to regain control of the game. An 8-3 jaunt by the home team gave NU a 77-61 lead with only 1:49 to play. The Cajuns outscored the Huskers 9-4 to end the game, but the outcome was no longer in question.
Petrakova led all players with 24 points and 15 rebounds, but committed six of the Cajuns 18 costly turnovers. Charles added 15 points with three turnovers, while Tiffany Washington had 12 points and a pair of turnovers.
Blanche recorded a game-high nine assists to only two miscues.
Nebraska scored 21 points off turnovers to only nine by UL. The Huskers had five players in double figures in scoring, led by 16 from Jessica Gerhart.
NU made three of its first four from three-point range, helping the Huskers take an 11-9 lead at the first media timeout.
Louisiana and Nebraska continued to trade baskets through the first nine minutes, but the Huskers' free throw and three-point success helped them to a 17-13 advantage.
Kiera Hardy made three consecutive baskets, including two three-pointers to spark a 10-2 run which gave the hosts a 25-15 lead at the 9:19 mark.
Washington responded with a basket before Charles hit her second triple of the first half to cut the Cajuns deficit to five, 25-20, just 42 seconds after Nebraska had gone ahead by double figures.
Poor shot selection, turnovers and lazy defense hurt the Cajuns as Nebraska then used a 10-0 run to take their biggest lead of the half, 35-20, with 4:10 to play.
Alicia McDaniel and Sherita Anderson came of the bench to help UL stay with Nebraska the rest of the half, closing the first 20 minutes down 42-28.
Up next for the Cajuns is a home contest against Lamar on Wednesday at 6pm. UL will look to improve on its 5-0 home record.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
