University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Cajuns Face Pair of Sun Belt Foes
12/30/2009 11:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team will be the road this week, facing two Sun Belt opponents this weekend. First up for the Cajuns will be Western Kentucky on Thursday at 2 p.m. CT followed by Middle Tennessee on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT.
Against the Lady Toppers, the Cajuns trail the all-time series 2-31. WKU has won the last two meetings with UL's last win coming during the 2006-07 season with a 77-64 victory in Bowling Green, Ky. The Cajuns have yet to win a contest against the Lady Raiders in 13 meetings.
The Cajuns (4-8, 0-1 SBC) are coming off a 10-day break. The last time out for UL was on Dec. 21 when the Cajuns captured a 77-50 win over Centenary at Earl K. Long. Four different Cajuns reached double figures in the win.
The Lady Toppers sit at 6-6 on the season and 0-1 in Sun Belt play. WKU posted a 74-65 road victory over George Washington on Monday. Arnika Brown leads WKU, averaging a double-double on the season with 10.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Amy McNear is also averaging double figures with 10.4 points per game and 4.1 assists.
Middle Tennessee is 6-4 on the year and 1-0 in league play, coming off a 57-51 win over previously unbeaten Kentucky on Monday. The Lady Raiders are led by preseason First Team ESPN.com All-American Alysha Clark. She leads all scorers with 23.6 ppg and 12.3 rebounds per contest. Jackie Pickel and Brandi Brown also average double-digits for MT scoring 11.4 and 10.9 ppg, respectively.
Game Day Story Lines
• The Cajuns will hit the road this weekend, opening up Sun Belt play with road contests at Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee on Thursday and Sunday, respectively.
• WKU holds a 31-2 all-time advantage over UL. The Lady Toppers have won the previous two meetings with the Cajuns last win coming during the 2006-07 season with a 77-64 victory in Bowling Green, Ky.
• The Ragin' Cajuns are 1-9 in Sun Belt road openers over the past 10 seasons. The last road win to open up league play for UL came with a60-56 win over South Alabama on Jan. 12, 2006.
• The Cajuns have not played since Dec. 21 after grabbing a 77-50 win over Centenary. In the balanced scoring attack, four players reached double-digit points for UL.
Barn Burner
Junior Jasmine Barnes has continued to improve during the 2009-10 season after averaging 8.2 points per game during her sophomore season. This season she leads the Cajuns, averaging 32.0 minutes per game. In five of the last seven contests, Barnes has reached double-figures while averaging 6.0 rebounds. Against Houston Baptist, the junior guard recorded her first career double-double, scoring 20 points with 11 rebounds. Barnes also netted a career-high 23 points on 9-of-13 as the Cajuns fell to Southeastern La. in overtime. She also reached double figures in UL's win over McNeese, scoring 11 points, narrowly missing a double-double with eight rebounds. Against the Lady Lions, she accounted for 12 points in the Cajun's opening 20-8 run. She was also a defensive force, crediting three steals and holding Southeastern scoreless for more than 12 minutes in the first half.
A Fresh Start
Mercedes Johnson began her sophomore season right where she left off her impressive freshman year. In 12 games, played Johnson has reached double-digit scoring, including two 20-point performances and one double-double. Against Lamar in the World Vision Classic, Johnson had a career night, scoring 22 points with 14 rebounds on 8-for-14 shooting.
A Needed Break
Alexis Green had started her first 34 games in the Cajuns' starting lineup. But after struggling to find her shooting stroke in the first five contests, Green has improved her play coming off the bench for UL. She has reached double figures in the past four consecutive games, averaging 12.7 points since coming off the bench. She had been averaging 11.8 points in 31.0 minutes per game, but her field goal percentage has improved (36.5 percent) as well as her 1:1 assist to turnover ratio in just 25.0 minutes per game. She also posted back-to-back 20-point performances, scoring 24 against North Carolina A&T and 23 against Houston Baptist. In 10 games in her career, Green has scored 20-plus points, including a career-high 32 against Louisiana-Monroe last season. She has also recorded three double-doubles in her time at Lafayette. Her most recent double-double performance came in the final game of the World Vision Classic against Idaho. In the loss, Green put up 18 points with 10 rebounds.
Last Time Out…Centenary (Dec. 21)
Four Cajuns posted 11 points as Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team cruised to a 77-50 win over Centenary on last Monday at Earl K. Long Gym. The balanced scoring attack was also helped by a Cajuns' defense that caused Centenary to commit 31 turnovers and garnered 13 steals. UL took advantage of the Ladies' mistakes, scoring 31 points off the turnovers. The Cajuns now sit at 4-8 overall on the year. With the win, UL eclipsed their total wins from last season in just 12 games. Centenary falls to 1-11 this season with the loss. Centenary was able to hang around at the start of the game, tying the score 12-12 with 11:41 remaining. But the Cajuns would go on a 27-7 run to closeout the half, leading 39-19. During the first half, UL forced the Ladies into 19 turnovers and recorded seven steals. The Cajuns scored 20 of their 39 first-half points off of Centenary's miscues. Nine different Cajuns recorded a basket in the first frame, including a jumper by freshman Brandi Schambough as time expired. In the second half, Cajuns built their lead to 29 points, 61-32, at the 9:31 mark and Centenary would never threaten the remainder of the half. Mercedes Johnson, Jasmine Barnes, Josie West and Alexis Green led UL with 11 points each. Of the 15 players that saw time on the court for the Cajuns, 12 recorded at least two points. Michelle Brunker was the top rebounder with five boards.
