University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK*
Defense Shines as Cajuns Down UALR, 55-53
2/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Saturday, February 25, 2006
LAFAYETTE-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team would conclude the regular season with a 55-53 win over Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday night at Earl K. Long Gymnasium.
The Cajuns (18-9, 8-7 Sun Belt Conference) trailed by as many as nine point in the second half, but used a strong defensive effort to scratch a win against the Trojans (13-14, 5-9 SBC).
With just 36-seconds left on the clock and the score knotted at 53-53, Sonora Edwards drained a pair of free throws to give the Cajuns a two point advantage.
The Trojans would attempt a three pointer with just 12-seconds left, but the shot was off the mark. UALR would pull down the rebound but would turn the ball over stepping out-of-bounds.
UALR fouled Ashley Blanche on the ensuing Cajuns' possession. The senior would miss both free throws, but would intercept a Trojan pass with under 10-seconds remaining to seal the win for the Cajuns.
Edwards would lead the way for the Cajuns netting 13 points including the two free throws to give UL the victory.
Yolanda Jones and Blanche both scored 10 points for the Cajuns, with Jones leading UL in rebounding with 10 giving the junior her 13th double-double of the season.
The Cajuns caused 14 Trojan turnovers, blocked three shots and had a pair of steals. With the Cajuns trailing 49-42 late in the game, the UL defense kept UALR from scoring for over four minutes.
For the first half of the opening frame, the two teams played even with each other and saw the score knotted at 16-16 with just nine-minutes to play in the first half.
The Cajuns would go on a four and a half minute scoring drought. During the Cajuns scoring lull, the Arkansas-Little Rock would go on an 8-to-0 run to build a 24-16 lead.
The Trojans would build the lead to 28-20 before Onna Charles drained two triples to cut the lead to just a pair.
With just 30-seconds left to play in the half, UALR would make a layup to take a 30-26 lead into the locker room.
The Ragin' Cajuns shot just 28-percent from the floor in the first half, but a strong defensive effort helped UL remain in the game.
The Cajuns three-point shooting woes continued as UL started the game 0-for-8 from behind the arc. Charles' pair of three-pointers would prove to be the only baskets from behind the arc for the Cajuns in the first half.
Jones brought the Cajuns back in the second half. The junior forward made the first three baskets of the second half to give UL a 32-30 advantage. The two point lead three-minutes into the second half was the first lead for the Cajuns since the score was 9-7 at the 14-minute mark of the first half.
The Trojans would build their lead back to four points, but layups by Jones and Jeanenne Colbert would tie the game at 38-38 with 11-minutes to play.
The Cajuns would be outscored 9-to-0 over the next three minutes to give UALR their largest lead of the night.
Blanche cut the Trojan lead to just six at 47-41 as she connected on a triple with just under eight minutes remaining in regulation.
Two layups and a pair of free throw from Edwards brought the Cajuns to within one at 49-48 with just over four minutes to play.
Colbert would be fouled on back-to-back fast break layups following consecutive steals. The junior transfer would connect on 3-of-4 free throws to give the Cajuns a 51-49 edge with four minutes to play.
Blanche would extend the Ragin' Cajuns lead as she converted a layup in traffic while being knocked to the floor. The senior from New Orleans would miss the ensuing free throw to keep the Cajuns lead at 53-49.
The Trojans would make a pair of baskets to tie the game at 53-53 with just two minutes to play setting up the final minute dramatics.
The Cajuns will travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., for the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The tournament tips off on Thursday, March 2 and continues through Tuesday, March 7.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
