University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Florida International
Cajuns Struggle Without Edwards
2/6/2008 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
UL (5-17, 1-10) was hurt by the absence of their leading rebounder (8.3rpg) and third leading scorer (11.1ppg). Edwards remains 18 rebounds shy of second place on the all-time list and 54 points from becoming the thirteenth player in school history to score 1,000 points.
The Cajuns had won six of their last seven games vs. FIU, including two of the last three in
FIU (10-13, 6-6) began the second half on a 10-2 run. The Cajuns started the second half 1-for-8 shooting to slip into a 14-point hole.
The hosts added 10 points around five points from Whitney Dunlap to take a 49-30 lead with 12:30 to play.
After baskets from Alicia McDaniel and Courtney Ratliff, FIU hit three-point baskets on three consecutive possessions to build a 58-34 edge with 9:13 remaining.
The Cajuns were never able to close their deficit under 15 points the rest of the way.
UL was led by McDaniel and Ratliff, as each scored 17 points. Ratliff led the Cajuns with seven rebounds. The Cajuns connected on 5-of-15 three-point shots and are just 10-for-43 from long distance over their last three games.
FIU dominated the boards, 48-24. No Cajuns player other than Ratliff had more than three rebounds.
LaQuetta Ferguson led all players with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Four other Golden Panthers scored in double figures.
Despite 18 first half turnovers, FIU held a six-point lead after 20 minutes.
Jasmine Jenkins, who averages 5.4 points per game, scored seven points in the first 6:05 to put FIU ahead 10-6. Jenkins finished the night with 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting.
The scoring of McDaniel and Ratliff tied the game at 12-12. McDaniel had eight points, while Ratliff had the Cajuns other four points.
A steal and fast-break lay-up by Jasmine Barnes tied the game for the second time at 18-18 with 5:51 to play in the opening stanza.
The Golden Panthers outscored the Cajuns 11-5 over the final five minutes of the first half to take a six-point lead at the half.
The Cajuns return to action on Sunday afternoon in
