University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
Cajuns
12/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Friday, Dec. 30, 2005
LAFAYETTE - The nation's fifth longest winning streak nearly came to a stunning end on Friday, as Arkansas-Pine Bluff gave Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns a dogfight that UL survived.
The Cajuns won the game 64-56 thanks to a fantastic final 11 minutes. UL has won 21 consecutive home games dating back to the 2003-04 season.
The Golden Lions (1-8) played inspired throughout, as Louisiana-Lafayette (10-2) never seemed ready to play. The poor performance overshadows the Cajuns record, which ties the 1983-84 team for the best start after 12 games in school history.
Trailing by three at the half, the Cajuns quickly tied the game at 28-28.
From there, the lead would change hands eight times over the next 5:51, with UL finally taking the lead for good, 40-39, at the 11:46 mark. The Cajuns shot 47 percent (15-of-32) in the second half, including 56 percent (9-of-16) in the final 11 minutes.
Nine unanswered points by the Cajuns made it 47-39 in favor of the hosts with 8:37 left in the contest.
Sonora Edwards started the run with a basket before Sherita Anderson added three points over two possessions. Onna Charles added a bucket and then Edwards added an offensive rebound and put-back to give the Cajuns their biggest run of the game.
Edwards then matched UAPB over the next three minutes to keep the Cajuns lead at eight, 53-45, with five minutes remaining.
Ashley Blanche's first basket of the game followed, a three-pointer, to give the Cajuns their biggest lead, 56-45, with 4:45 to play.
Three straight turnovers by UL helped UAPB to four unanswered points, cutting Louisiana's lead to 56-49 with 2:50 left.
The lead remained seven, until Latoya Thomas converted two free throws with 73 seconds to play.
The Cajuns five-point lead jettisoned to eight only 11 seconds later as Charles drilled a triple right in front of the Cajuns bench.
Edwards and Charles led all scorers with 18 points apiece. Edwards and Alicia McDaniel each contributed a team-high nine rebounds. Anderson posted a career-best eight rebounds to go with nine points.
The Golden Lions full court pressure caused the Cajuns fits in the opening minutes. Louisiana had eight turnovers in the first nine minutes, trailing 13-10.
The Cajuns needed 11:54 to take their first lead. Two free throws by Edwards and lay-ups by McDaniel and Charles helped UL to a 6-2 run and a 16-15 lead.
UAPB quickly retook the lead on two free throws by Brittany Morgan, but Anderson's baseline jumper and four points by Yolanda Jones gave the Cajuns a five-point lead, 22-17, with just under six minutes to play in the first half.
The Golden Lions responded with an 8-0 spurt to take the lead back, 25-22, with only 2:15 showing in the half.
Edwards three-pointer tied the game, but Thomas converted a three-point play to put UAPB back up three points at the end of the first half.
The Cajuns begin Sun Belt Conference play next Thursday, January 5 versus Denver. The ESPN+ tip-off is slated for 7:05pm at Long Gym.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
