University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Texas
#20 Texas Too Much for Cajuns
12/16/2007 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
AUSTIN, Texas-Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team had their two-game winning streak snapped by No. 20 Texas on Sunday afternoon, falling 76-43 in front of a crowd of 5,051 at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.
The Cajuns (3-5) were the victims of too many turnovers. UL committed a season-high 29 turnovers, which led to 43 Longhorn (8-2) points.
UL won the rebounding battle 46-to-42, becoming the only team this season to get the better of Texas on the boards.
The Ragin' Cajuns were led offensively by Onna Charles (New Iberia, La.). The senior was right at her average in the Erwin Center, netting 12 points in the contest. In five games in Austin, Charles is averaging 12.8 points per game.
Charles was followed by Sonora Edwards (Snook, Texas) and Alicia McDaniel (Houston, Texas). Edwards netted eight points, while McDaniel scored seven ? all in the second half.
Edwards and McDaniel paced the Cajuns in rebound. The duo both had eight rebounds a piece to lead all Cajuns players.
The Longhorns wasted little time building up a 5-0 lead.
After winning the opening tip-off, Texas' Erneisha Bailey drained a three-pointer with just over 10 seconds off the clock. A Cajuns' turnover led to another basket giving the hosts a 5-0 lead 30-seconds into the game.
The Cajuns battled back and cut the lead to just a pair at the 17:02 mark. Trailing 7-2, Charles scored the Cajuns next five points to cut the Longhorn advantage to 9-7. Charles made a fast break lay-up and drained three free throws during the stretch.
From there, Texas went on an 11-0 to take a 20-7 lead.
Kina Miller (Aurora, Ill.) broke up the Longhorn run with a lay-up at the 11:34 mark in the first half. Fouled on the play, Miller converted the three-point play draining the freebie.
Trailing 22-12, Charles cut the deficit to single digits with a triple from the corner, while a trey from the top of the key by Elaine McCants (Boston, Mass.) trimmed the lead to 22-18 with 7:22 to play in the half.
The Cajuns had a chance move closer, but failed to capitalize.
Down six, Edwards was fouled making a lay-up under the basket. She missed the ensuing free throw, but Charles grabbed the rebound. The put back was off the mark, leaving the score 24-20 with 6:10 remaining in the half.
Texas finished the half with a 14-3 run to take a 38-23 lead into intermission. The Cajuns only points came from a free throw from Miller at the 1: 00 mark and a buzzer beater by Valanette Amie (Tulsa, Okla).
The Cajuns never got any closer than 13 points as the Longhorns continued to roll in the second half. UT extended their lead to as many as 34 and claiming the victory by a final score of 76-43.
The Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team returns home for a game with Nicholls State on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. at historic Earl K. Long Gym. UL will look to improve on their 30-18 (.625) record against NSU. Also, the Cajuns will look to improve on their 37-6 (.840) record at home over the past three-plus seasons.
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