University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
South Alabama
Ragin' Cajuns vs. South Alabama
1/17/2007 5:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LAFAYETTE - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns remain perfect in the New Year following Wednesday night's 69-61 win over South Alabama. The Cajuns are 5-0 in 2007, 15-5 (7-2) overall.
South Alabama drops to 8-10 (3-5).
The Jaguars began the second half by outscoring UL 14-7, tying the score at 43-43 at the 13:38 mark. The Cajuns were hurt by six turnovers in the first six minutes of the second half after having just three turnovers in the entire first half.
Yolanda Jones scored to give the Cajuns back the lead, but a triple by Raena Ellis put USA ahead for the first time since a 16-14 lead at 11:34 of the first half.
The visitors lead lasted only 20 seconds as Whitney Dunlap banked a three-pointer to ignite an 8-0 run. Jeanenne Colbert added a three-point play and then two more from the stripe to give the Cajuns a 53-46 edge with 9:06 to play.
The Cajuns lead moved to eight points, 58-50, on a free throw and then a basket in the paint by Courtney Ratliff at 6:18.
The Jaguars scored five straight points to cut the Cajuns lead down to three, 58-55, with 4:06 on the clock.
Three free throws brought the Cajuns lead up to six points, but Whitney Woodard banked a three-pointer from the baseline and Monique Jones scored to bring the Jaguars within one point with 2:24 remaining.
One free throw by Jones upped the Cajuns lead to two points and stellar defense limited USA to only one more point the rest of the way.
Colbert scored six points in the final 55 seconds to increase the final margin of victory.
Jones led the Cajuns with 23 points and 11 rebounds, her third straight double-double and seventh in the last nine games. Colbert added 18 points and five assists, while Ratliff contributed a career-high 11 points in 27 minutes off the bench.
The Cajuns started slowly, allowing USA to build an early 8-0 lead. UL came back with seven straight points starting with a Sonora Edwards bucket, followed by two from the stripe by Jones and then a three-point play by Jones.
Trailing 16-11, Colbert made the Cajuns first triple to stop a 0-for-6 drought. Colbert's three-pointer at the 11:34 mark prompted a 10-0 run. Kina Miller's lay-up came in-between another Colbert triple that gave the Cajuns their first lead. Alicia McDaniel finished the run with a basket to boost the UL lead to 21-16 at the 8:38 mark.
After the visitors cut the Cajuns advantage to two points, UL finished the half with an 8-3 spurt to head to the locker room leading by seven points, 36-29. Jones scored again before two lay-ups by Ratliff - giving Ratliff a eight points in the first half. Edwards scored the last basket of the opening stanza with 52 seconds remaining.
