University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
NEW MEXICO STATE*
Cajuns Stay Perfect at Home with Win over New Mexico State
1/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2005
LAFAYETTE – Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns topped New Mexico State by a final of 67-46 on Thursday night in Lafayette.
Smothering defense paved the way for the Cajuns, who held New Mexico State to 34 percent shooting, while connecting at a 40 percent clip of their own.
Louisiana (13-4, 3-1) carried a 15-point lead into the second stanza, but it was quickly cut to seven points in just under four minutes.
From there, the Cajuns took over the game.
A 15-2 scoring explosion put UL up 53-33 at the 12:47 mark.
Bernette Tolston started the scoring with a long jumper, followed by two from the line by Alicia McDaniel. Anna Petrakova scored inside, before she and Tolston added back-to-back three-point plays. Tiffany Washington added two free throws and Petrakova another to cap the run and put the Cajuns up by 20.
New Mexico State (6-10, 1-3) never got closer than 15 points the rest of the way.
Washington and Petrakova led all players with 16 points apiece, adding nine and eight rebounds, respectively. Sonora Edwards had eight points and Sherita Anderson added four points to give the Cajuns 44 points from their four post players.
The Aggies were hurt by 21 fouls and 19 turnovers.
The win matches Louisiana's win total from last season. UL will embark on an arduous three-game road swing at Florida International on Monday, at Middle Tennessee on Thursday and at Western Kentucky on Saturday. The Cajuns will get a few days of rest before traveling to Denver the following Thursday, February 3.
Onna Charles two three pointers helped the Cajuns to an early 10-4 lead 3:18 into the contest.
A triple from Washington extended the Cajuns lead to 17-8 before two free throws by Petrakova made it a 19-8 game with 11:07 left in the first half.
The Aggies cut into the Cajuns lead with two three pointers in a 30-second span, but UL came back with a 10-3 run.
Free throws by Ashley Blanche started the spurt. Petrakova, Edwards, Blanche and Anderson all scored baskets in succession for UL to up the Cajuns lead to 29-17 with 5:44 showing on the clock.
After a NMS basket, Washington buried two three pointers in 24 seconds to give the Cajuns their biggest lead of the half, 35-19, with 2:48 remaining.
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