University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Western Kentucky
Cajuns Give Great Effort in Defeat
1/20/2008 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Cajuns trailed by just two points, 64-62, at the 8:00 mark, but from that point Courtney Ratliff was the only player to score for UL (5-12, 1-5) until Alicia McDaniel converted a lay-up with 19.8 seconds remaining.
The difference for WKU (14-5, 7-0) in the second half was shooting. The Lady Toppers shot 70.8 percent, missing only seven shots in the final 20 minutes.
In a little over one minute, WKU pushed their lead back to double-figures, 52-42, at 15:24.
Edwards and Jasmine Barnes each hit short jumpers to close the difference to six points. After the teams traded baskets for the next three minutes, Ratliff made two free throws and then a break-away lay-up to push the Cajuns closer, 58-54, with 11:18 to play.
A fast-break lay-up by Barnes made it a two-point game, but Charlotte Marshall drilled a triple from the wing and Dominique Duck scored inside to give WKU some breathing room, 69-62, at the 7:08 mark.
In the blink of an eye, the Lady Toppers' lead was back to double figures, 76-66, with only 5:13 showing on the clock.
Ratliff led the Cajuns with 24 points, including 10 straight in a six-minute stretch late in the game. She also contributed six rebounds, three steals, three assists and two blocks. Edwards added 17 points and five boards, while McDaniel finished with 13 points.
Crystal Kelly led all players with 25 points and eight rebounds. Three other Lady Toppers finished in double figures, including 20 points by Kenzie Rich.
The Lady Toppers took a 42-31 lead into the second stanza. WKU shot 47.2 percent in the first half, despite missing several easy baskets. The Cajuns shot 45.8 percent over the first 20 minutes, but were out-rebounded 22-10, including 12-3 on the offensive glass.
The Cajuns struggled early with the full court pressure supplied by WKU. The Lady Toppers jumped out to an early 8-0 lead in the first four minutes.
UL was able to trim their deficit to six points, 20-14, at the 10:55 mark. Back-to-back baskets by Ratliff and McDaniel provided scoring.
From there, WKU enjoyed a 16-5 burst over the next 5:23 to build their biggest lead of the first half, 36-19.
The Cajuns bounced back with a 12-4 spurt in the next 5:15 to cut the margin under double figures. Edwards and Bronson Rodgers each contributed two baskets during the run.
UL seemed to have momentum heading into the break, but Kelly scored in the paint as time expired in the opening half to create an 11-point cushion for the visitors.
The Cajuns will go back on the road next week to face South Alabama on Wednesday and
