Late Rally Lifts Cajuns

LAFAYETTE ? Trailing 52-47 with the clock approaching two minutes left to play Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team needed a lift and senior Whitney Dunlap was able to jumpstart her team's late rally.

Dunlap buried a jumper in the right corner at 2:01 trimming the deficit to 52-49. The basket started a game-ending 6-0 run for UL which posted a 53-52 exhibition victory over LSU-Shreveport here Tuesday evening at the CAJUNDOME.

A steal by Mercedes Johnson put the ball in D'Mya Clays hands and she returned the ball to Johnson for a fastbreak basket which cut the Lady Pilots lead to 52-51. On the ensuing possession it was another UL steal, this time by Nicole Morris, which resulted in Clay racing in for a layup that gave the hosts the winning points.

Jasmine Barnes led Louisiana with 14 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Johnson chipped in nine points.

As a team, UL posted 14 steals led by five from Bronson Rogers.

LSUS received a game-high 24 points from Valerie Huizar. She connected on 6-of-8 three-point field goal attempts. She did, however, commit 10 of the Lady Pilots' 18 turnovers.

Louisiana had pulled in front when Rogers found Johnson off an inbounds pass for an inside basket as she was fouled. Johnson made the free throw to put the Cajuns in front 47-46.

Huizar hit three-pointers on the two of the next three possessions to give the Lady Pilots a 52-47 lead with 3:38 remaining.

UL then responded with the aforementioned game-clinching rally to escape with the victory.

It was a slow start for Louisiana as the squad missed its first 10 field goal attempts. LSUS took advantage and started the contest on an 8-0 run.

The Cajuns rebounded with an 8-0 run of their own to draw even by the 12:05 mark. Barnes scored three consecutive baskets during the run.

The Lady Pilots reclaimed the lead on the next possession when Huizar connected on a triple at 11:37. LSUS would extend the advantage to five points twice with the last being 15-10 at the 6:56 mark.

Back-to-back defensive stops inside of three minutes resulted in fastbreak layups for UL ? both from Barnes ? which pulled the hosts in front 18-17. Another Barnes layup at 3:24 boosted the Cajuns lead to 20-17. It was a pair of Rogers' steals which created the Cajuns rally.

Huizar converted a three-point play at 1:55 to forge a 20-all tie. Alexis Green gave UL a one-point lead with a freebie at 1:34. LSUS responded with a basket by Ricosha Kindells for a 22-21 lead.

D'Mya Clay hit a hook shot on the baseline with 49.4 on the clock as she was fouled. She made the free throw to complete the three-point play and Louisiana's lead was 24-22.

Huizar answered back for the Lady Pilots with a long-range three-point basket on the right wing. After a missed shot by Lyndra Bell, Flowers rebounded the ball and found Huizar for a layup with 10 seconds left before halftime to up the LSUS lead to 27-24.

The Ragin' Cajuns open the 2008-09 regular season on Friday, Nov. 14 in Houston as they meet Texas Southern. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Louisiana's first home game of the season takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 19 against Ole Miss at 7 p.m., in Earl K. Long Gym.

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