University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Denver
Ragin' Cajuns vs. Denver
1/3/2007 5:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LAFAYETTE - Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns love opening the New Year against Denver.
Louisiana improved to 11-5 (3-2) thanks to a 72-52 win over DU (6-6, 1-2) on Wednesday night at Earl K. Long Gym. The Cajuns have won the last four New Years meetings by a final average margin of 21 points.After an even first half, UL started the second half with an 18-2 run to break the game open. Eight points from Yolanda Jones, six points by Alicia McDaniel and two Jeanenne Colbert baskets gave the Cajuns a 45-29 lead at the 12:46 mark of the second stanza.
Excellent Cajuns defense forced DU to miss their first 10 shots to begin the second half.Following the Pioneers first field goal, at 12:14, Sonora Edwards, Onna Charles, Jones and McDaniel added buckets, while DU missed their next five shots, helping the hosts to a 53-31 lead with 8:55 remaining.
A 7-2 run by Denver over the next 3:32 couldn't dent the Cajuns lead and the final minutes saw UL finish the game at the free throw line.Jones led the Cajuns with 20 points and 11 rebounds ? her eighth double-double of the season. McDaniel finished with a career high 16 points. Colbert added 15 points and Charles scored 13 points, including seven free throws in the final 96 seconds.
The Cajuns shot 54 percent in the second half, compared to 31 percent by the Pioneers, and won the rebounding battle in the second stanza 26-13.UL never trailed after the opening 2:12.
Jones scored eight straight points for the Cajuns after two points apiece from McDaniel and Charles, giving UL a 12-7 lead to start the game.After a lay-up by Denver's Nnenna Akotaobi, McDaniel scored five straight points to push the Cajuns lead to 17-9 at 11:39 of the first half.
DU cut the Cajuns lead down to four on three different occasions over the next nine minutes, but each time the Cajuns answered to protect their advantage.The Pioneers took control of the momentum in the final two minutes of the first half after Tyesha Lowery banked a three-pointer from the top of the arc as the shot clock wound down.
After a free throw by Sonora Edwards, Brooke Meyer and Sara Benham each made jumpers to tie the game at 27-27 at the half. It marked the first time in the entire first half that the Pioneers made two unanswered baskets.
The Cajuns stay home to face Florida International on Saturday at 3pm at Long Gym.
