University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Troy*
Cajuns Win Second Straight Sun Belt Conference Road Game With 81-69 Victory at Troy
1/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Saturday, January 14, 2006
TROY, Ala. - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns moved to 13-3 (3-1) thanks to an 81-69 win at Troy, 7-7 (1-2), on Saturday night.
The Cajuns led by 16 points at the break and never saw that lead dip below 10 points in the second half.
Onna Charles led the Cajuns offense with a career-high 35 points ? the 12th best scoring performance in school history ? and added seven rebounds. Charles poured in 24 points in the first half, then scored 11 points in the second half, helping the Cajuns stave off a Troy team determined to cut the Cajuns lead under double-figures.
Louisiana scored 80-plus points in a road conference game for the first time since Feb. 25, 1988, an 82-36 win a American South-foe Texas-Pan American.
The Trojans closed to 57-47 at the 12:05 mark and 62-52 at the 10:06 mark, but both times Charles answered with three points. The first answer came on a terrific three-point play and the latter on a triple from the corner. Charles three-pointer was her sixth of the game (on nine attempts) and gave Louisiana the breathing room they desperately needed.
A terrific first half of shooting and defense propelled the Cajuns in the game's opening 20 minutes. UL shot a season-best 53.3 percent in the first stanza.
UL started the game with a 21-4 spurt. Louisiana came out of the gate making 9-of-12 from the floor and out-rebounding the Trojans 9-1 in the first six minutes.
A lay-up by Ashley Blanche preceded an offensive put-back by Sonora Edwards. Charles followed with a triple before two baskets in the paint by Yolanda Jones. Two more three's by Charles around jumpers by Blanche and Charles gave UL a 17-point lead at the 12:57 mark of the first half.
After Troy drew within 22-8, Louisiana used an 11-0 burst to take a 33-8 lead at the 8:44 mark. Charles scored eight points on the run, giving her 19 points at that point.
Charles' fourth triple of the first half gave the sophomore from New Iberia 22 points, surpassing her career-high of 20 points.
Jeanenne Colbert followed with a three-pointer to give the Cajuns their biggest lead of the game, 41-13, with 5:37 remaining in the first half.
Louisiana's 28-point lead was quickly cut in half, thanks to a 14-0 run by the hosts.
Charles finished the first half with an off-balance jumper from the block with two seconds remaining to help the Cajuns to a 43-27 lead.
Jones finished the night with 19 points and 11 rebounds ? her ninth double-double of the season. Blanche had eight points and a career-high 12 assists.
The Cajuns continue their road swing at Florida International on Saturday, Jan. 21. The game will be carried by ESPN 1420AM and on www.ragincajuns.com.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
