University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
SOUTH ALABAMA*
Cajuns Let Late Lead Slip Away
2/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Thursday, February 9, 2006
Lafayette-Louisiana's Ragin Cajuns women's basketball team trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half and led by as many as seven points in the second half, but fell 54-50 to South Alabama at Earl K. Long Gymnasium on Thursday night.
The Cajuns (15-8, 5-6 Sun Belt Conference) led by seven points with just over three minutes to play in the game, but were unable to make a basket in the final 3:19 and fell to the Jaguars (12-10, 6-4 SBC) in the first of five straight home contests for UL to end the 2005-06 regular season.
The loss marks the third straight defeat for the Cajuns in Lafayette on the heels of a 20-game home winning streak. The Cajuns fell to North Texas at home on Jan. 7 and then dropped a game to Western Kentucky on Jan. 28 at Earl K. Long Gym.
Just like the first meeting between the two teams, the Cajuns used a strong effort in the opening minutes of the second half to build a lead.
Trailing by 10 at halftime, the Cajuns went on a 21-7 run in the first eight minutes of the second half to take a 41-37 lead on the Jaguars.
The score would remain 41-37 until Whitney Woodard knocked down a pair of free throws at the seven-minute mark.
With just over three minutes in the game, Ashley Blanche hit a three-point jumper to extend the Cajuns lead to 50-43. However, the Jaguars would cut the lead to 50-48 thanks to five straight points by Woodard.
A three point basket by JoAnna Williams gave South Alabama a 51-50 advantage with one minute to play.
A turnover by the Cajuns led to a layup by Williams who pushed the USA lead to three points with under a minute to play.
Trailing 53-50, the Cajuns managed two 3-point jumpers but neither attempt fell for UL.
A free throw by Valencia Boswell of the Jaguars gave South Alabama a four point lead with just nine seconds left on the clock.
Jeanenne Colbert tried a desperation three-pointer, but the attempt was blocked by Williams to seal the victory for the Jaguars.
Blanche led all Cajuns' scorers with 13-points, playing 36 minutes, despite an injury in her shooting arm, before fouling out.
Sonora Edwards scored 11 for the Cajuns and Onna Charles added 10 in the losing effort.
Edwards led the Cajuns in rebounding pulling down nine boards. Colbert pulled down eight rebounds, while Yolanda Jones, who played only 18-minutes due to foul trouble, had seven.
The Cajuns committed 23 turnovers on the night that led to 23 Jaguar points, and UL's bench was outscored 17-to-3 by South Alabama.
Despite six lead changes and three occasions when the score was tied, the Cajuns entered halftime trailing the Jaguars by 10 points. UL shot just 30-percent from the floor, while the Jaguars shot nearly 40-percent in the half.
The Cajuns committed 15 turnovers in the opening half which led to 17 USA points.
Even though the Ragin' Cajuns out rebounded the South Alabama 21-to-16, USA managed to score eight second chance points compared to just three by UL.
Adding to the Cajuns' troubles in the first half, UL's bench was outscored 15-to-0 in the first half.
Charles, Colbert and Jones combined for 15 of the Cajuns 20 points at the half, with each player netting five points.
Colbert and Jones led the Cajuns in the first half with four rebounds a piece.
The second half saw Jones sidelined with four fouls with just under a minute played in the second half.
The Cajuns managed to cut the Jaguars lead to just five points, 30-25, with a basket by Charles and a triple by Edwards.
The lead was quickly increased on USA's next possession as Williams drained a three-pointer from the top of the key.
Edwards and Charles combined to cut the lead to three with about 17-minutes to play in the game. After a layup by Edwards, Charles netted a long three to cut the lead to just 33-30.
Blanche cut the lead to just a pair as she hit the front end of a pair of free throws. A lane violation by the Cajuns prevented the second free throw.
A Colbert three-pointer made the score 35-34, with about 15-minutes remaining in the half.
A turnaround jumper by Edwards gave the Cajuns their first lead of the second half, 36-35, with just under 14-minutes top play ? a lead the squad would hold on to until Williams' triple with 1:15 left to play put the Jags up 51-50.
The Ragin' Cajuns will continue their current homestand and return to action on Saturday, Feb. 11 when Troy visits Earl K. Long Gym. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
-Ragin' Cajuns-
