Cajuns Blast Denver 76-50 in Sun Belt Conference Opener

UL extends nation's fourth longest home court winning streak to 22 straight games.

Thursday, January 5, 2006

LAFAYETTE - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns dominated from the start, beating Denver 76-50 on Thursday night at Earl K. Long Gym. The game marked the start of Sun Belt Conference play for both schools.

Louisiana improves to 11-2 (1-0), while Denver falls to 6-6 (0-1).

The Cajuns owned the boards, out-rebounding DU 45-22, including 24-7 offensively.

Alicia McDaniel started the second half the same way she started the first, with a three-pointer from the corner. Onna Charles then scored two baskets to help the hosts push their 16-point first half lead to 19 points, 48-29, with 16:43 to play.

After a Venice Adams basket, Louisiana used a 9-0 run to put the game away. Charles hit her third straight basket for the Cajuns before McDaniel knocked down a short jumper as the shot clock expired. Charles drove to the basket and completed a three-point play and then Yolanda Jones scored to put the Cajuns in front 57-31 with 13:26 left.

The Cajuns fourth 7-0 run of the night gave UL a 31-point lead, 66-35, midway through the half. Jones scored three points on the burst, while Ashley Blanche and Jeanenne Colbert each connected on baskets.

Four Cajun players finished the game scoring in double figures. Charles led all scorers with 18, followed by Jones who netted 17. Ashley Blanche scored 15 with McDaniel scoring 10.

McDaniel also grabbed 10 rebounds, giving the sophomore from Houston, Texas her first career double-double.

Senior Sherita Anderson pulled down a career high 10 rebounds to go with her eight points.

The Cajuns led 7-0 before Denver even attempted a shot nearly five minutes into the game. A triple from McDaniel and baskets by Blanche and Charles gave UL the quick edge.

The Pioneers first attempt was a successful three-pointer to cut the Cajuns lead to four, 7-3, but Louisiana came back with another seven unanswered points to run their lead to 14-3.

Two free throws by Blanche, a three-pointer by Charles and a basket from Jones put the Cajuns ahead by 11 points at the 12:56 mark of the first half.

The Cajuns used another run to build their lead to 16 points. Three's by Sonora Edwards and Blanche, and another Jones basket pushed UL's lead to 22-6 with 10:29 left in the opening stanza.

Louisiana's lead moved to 20 points, 29-9, with another 7-0 run. Blanche drilled another three before buckets from Charles and Anderson.

The Cajuns crashed the boards in the first half, holding a 20-10 advantage. Twelve of the Cajuns rebounds came on the offensive glass.

Louisiana returns to action on Saturday, hosting Sun Belt-foe North Texas at Long Gym at 7pm.

-Ragin' Cajuns-