University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
#DENVER*
Cajuns Open Conference Play with 69-54 Victory over Denver
1/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2005
LAFAYETTE – For the second year in a row and just the eighth time in school history, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns begin conference play with a victory. Freshman Onna Charles and senior Tiffany Washington each scored a game-high 20 points, as the Cajuns took a 69-54 win over the Denver Pioneers here Saturday at the Cajundome.
Charles finished 6-for-9 from the field, including 5-for-5 from three-point range. Washington was 8-for-17 from the field and finished with nine rebounds in the game.
With the win, Louisiana-Lafayette (11-3, 1-0) improves to 7-0 at home this season, including a 2-0 mark at the Cajundome. Denver drops to 2-11 overall and 0-1 in the Sun Belt.
Three Cajuns finished in double figures, including Charles and Washington. Ashley Blanche chipped in 10 points. Senior Anna Petrakova was held in check for the entire game, scoring only six points, on 3-of-8 shooting. She now sits 31 points to become the 10th player in school history to score 1,000 career points.
Unlike the first half, UL Lafayette was able to keep its double digit lead for the entire period. The Pioneers were as close as 11 and down by as many as 22 points in the second half.
Charles scored the Cajuns' first six points of the opening half, helping the Cajuns to a quick 6-3 lead at the 19:10 mark.
Ashley Blanche hit a jumper just inside the arc to increase the Cajuns lead to 8-3. Denver's Brooke Meyer hit three free throws to cut the Cajuns lead to 8-6.
The Cajuns then went on a 13-3 run to extend their lead to 21-9 with 12:08 remaining in the opening half. Blanche led the way contributing six points during the run.
DU added a field goal before the media timeout at the 11:30 mark to trim the Cajuns' lead to 10, 21-11.
Following the timeout, three different Cajuns tallied a field goal, extending UL's lead to 27-11.
The Pioneers responded with nine unanswered points in 4:51. Sara Benham, Meyer and Sarah Cyran each had a basket, while Venice Adams converted on a three-point play for the Pioneers.
Charles hit her fourth three pointer of the first half, giving the Cajuns their first points in over five minutes, replenishing their double-digit lead, 30-20.
DU again responded with a pair of free throws from Benham and a three-pointer from Cassondra Bratton to cut the Cajuns lead to five, 30-25, with 3:09 remaining in the first half. It was the closest the Pioneers had been since the 15:12 mark, when UL lead 14-9.
UL closed out the first half on a 10-2 run, highlighted by three three-point baskets, including Charles' fifth of the first half, to take a 40-27 lead at the break.
Charles led all scorers with 15 points, going 5-for-7 from the field, including 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. Washington chipped in seven rebounds, while Blanche dished out six assists.
The Cajuns forced eight DU turnovers in the first half, while only turning the ball over seven times.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
