University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
South Carolina
Ragin' Cajuns at South Carolina
11/25/2006 5:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
COLUMBIA, S.C.-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball captured the 2006 South Carolina Thanksgiving Tournament Championship on Saturday night at the Colonial Center as they downed the host Gamecocks 83-68.
The Cajuns used double-digit scoring performances from all five starters, winning their fourth consecutive game to improve to 6-2 on the season.
South Carolina dropped to 4-2 on the season. The 15-point defeat was the Gamecocks worst home non-conference loss since a 27-point loss to NC State on Dec. 16, 2004.
Jeanenne Colbert led UL with 20 points on the night, followed by Yolanda Jones who netted 18. Junior Sonora Edwards recorded her second double-double of the season, scoring 17 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Rounding out the double-figure scoring for the Cajuns was Onna Charles and Alicia McDaniel who scored 13 and 12 respectively.
Jones was named tournament Most Valuable Player. She finished the tournament averaging 18 points and nine rebounds. Jones added three steals, a block and an assist while playing just 55 minutes in the two games.
South Carolina scored the first point of the game on a free throw at 18:27 and led 1-0 for the next 1:44, but the Cajuns first basket at 16:43 gave UL the lead which they would not relinquish.
The Gamecocks tied the score twice in the first half, but a 22-4 run gave the Cajuns an 18-point advantage with 5:34 remaining in the first half.
Tied 13-13 with 11:41 to play in the half, Edwards scored the game's next eight points.
She began the UL run with a fast break lay-up and added a triple to increase the lead to five.
At the 10-minute mark, Edwards added a jumper and a free throw to give the Cajuns a 21-13 advantage.
Colbert extended the run with a fast break lay-up giving Louisiana a double-figure cushion, but a South Carolina basket cut the lead to just eight.
McDaniel increased the lead back to double-digits with a fast break lay-up.
After a free throw by Kina Miller, Jones drained a triple to give the Cajuns the upper hand, 29-15.
After the Gamecocks made a quick jumper, Jones was fouled as she made a lay-up. She netted the free throw to give the Ragin' Cajuns a 32-17 lead.
Colbert finished off the Cajuns 22-4 run with a three pointer with 5:34 remaining in the first half.
The Ragin' Cajuns did not allow South Carolina to get any closer than 12 points in the rest of the first half and led 42-26 at intermission.
The second half was much of the same for UL as they never let their lead dip below than double-figures the entire half.
The Cajuns extended their edge to as many as 23 points with just 4:58 to play in the game.
SC edged UL 42-41 in the second half, but it didn't matter, as the Cajuns 16-point first half lead proved too much for the hosts.
Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team returns to action on Thursday, Nov. 30 as they travel to Houston to take on Texas Southern. The game, which is slated for 6:00 p.m., will mark the ninth consecutive game the Cajuns have played away from Lafayette.
