University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
* NORTH TEXAS
Cajuns Claim Close One With Win Over North Texas
2/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LAFAYETTE- Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns remain atop the Sun Belt Conference's West Division following a 53-50 victory over North Texas on Thursday afternoon at the Cajundome.
The Cajuns (11-8, 5-3) have now won three consecutive games over the Mean Green (8-12, 4-4).
With the Cajuns leading 50-45 with 1:38 to play, Sharee Glenn went to the line to shoot a one-and-one, but a lane violation on the Cajuns turned the ball over to North Texas.
After a NT turnover, Glenn went back to the line. One successful free throw gave the Cajuns a six-point edge with 1:10 remaining.
A free throw by Kelsie Edwards and another triple by Jill Medlock pulled the Mean Green within 51-49 with 41.7 seconds showing on the clock. Kim Blanton made one of two free throws with 24.9 remaining to cut the Cajuns lead to a single point.
The ensuing Cajuns inbounds pass never happened as the host's committed a foul prior to the play. A steal by Alexandra Kotta on the Mean Green's baseline play put Glenn back at the line.
After Glenn hit both from the stripe, Medlock's long game-tying attempt fell short off the front of the rim. Tiffany Washington secured the rebound as time expired.
Bernette Tolston led the Cajuns with 15 points, all on three-pointers. She also added seven rebounds. Anna Petrakova scored 12 points, 10 in the second half. Glenn added 10 points, while Washington contributed nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Medlock led North Texas with 15 points, while Blanton chipped in 10 points.
Medlock hit the second half's first basket, a three-pointer, to give the Mean Green their second lead of the game.
Petrakova scored two straight buckets to reclaim the Cajuns edge before Tolston hit a triple to extend that lead to 34-29.
Medlock hit another three-pointer to cap a 9-4 Mean Green run that tied the game at 38-38 with 12:24 to play.
After Dorota Klat's lay-up gave NT back the lead, Tolston's long distance basket snatched it back for the Cajuns and started a run by the home team.
Washington's lay-up and another triple in the corner by Tolston preceded a pair of free throws by Glenn. The 10-0 run gave the Cajuns a 48-40 lead with less than six minutes to go.
Two missed lay-ups by the Cajuns and a 5-2 spurt by the Mean Green gave momentum to the visitors, but the Cajuns intensified their defense and held NT scoreless over the next 2:30.
UL Lafayette won the rebounding battle 39-33, grabbing nine of their 10 offensive boards in the second stanza. While only shooting 38.5 percent, the Cajuns held NT to 33.9 percent from the floor.
A slow progressing game offensively, things picked-up in the middle of the first half. With the Cajuns leading 10-4, each team started draining three-pointers.
Medlock hit a pair of triples for the Mean Green, but Tolston matched those and Glenn added another to give UL Lafayette a 19-12 lead with 10:13 to play in the first half.
North Texas came back with more from behind the arc. Mian Williams hit one and Natalie Mireles hit two three-pointers to help the Mean Green get within 25-22. Blanton converted lay-ups on consecutive possessions to give NT their first lead, 26-25.
A steal and lay-up by Morgan Mayon gave the Cajuns back the upper hand, 27-26, with 2:46 left in the half.
Neither team would score again, allowing UL Lafayette a slim one-point lead at the break.
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