FIU Spoils Cajuns Return to Long Gym

LAFAYETTE ? Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns attempt at a second-half comeback against FIU Wednesday evening was halted by the one player the squad had trouble stopping. As a result FIU went on to win 64-44, keeping the Cajuns winless in Sun Belt play.

Monika Bosilj, who poured in a game-high 24 points, scored five key points for her team at a critical juncture in the contest. Those baskets triggered a 14-0 run for the visitors which iced the game.

The Ragin' Cajuns (3-19, 0-11 Sun Belt), who trailed 47-37 as the clock dropped below nine minutes remaining, got back-to-back transition baskets from Jasmine Barnes to trim the deficit to 47-42 with 8:06 left to play.

On the next possession Bosilj hit a leaning jumper out on the left wing to make it 49-42 with 7:40 on the clock. Less than one minute later, it was Bosilj hitting a triple at 6:52 to push the advantage to 52-42.

Louisiana continued to misfire, missing its next six field goal attempts while the Golden Panthers (5-18, 3-9 Sun Belt) reeled off nine more unanswered points to put the game out of reach.

The Ragin' Cajuns were led by Alexis Green's 18 points. She made five triples. Jasmine Barnes and Mercedes Johnson joined Green in double figures with 11 points apiece.

Bosilj connected on 6-of-13 three-point attempts to net 18 of her 24 points from three-point range.

The Ragin' Cajuns were held to 18 percent shooting (5-of-28) and scored only 13 points in the decisive half. FIU made five treys in the second half, while the Cajuns made none.

FIU recorded the first five points of the second half to stretch its halftime lead to 10 points. The Ragin' Cajuns got a three-point play by Green at 15:38 to drop the FIU lead to 41-34.

The next two possessions held the Cajuns at arms length. The Golden Panthers' answered Green's three-point play with a triple by Bosilj. FIU then forced a UL turnover on the ensuing possession and Cherisse Buddy buried a trey which increased the lead to 47-34 with 14:41 remaining.

Louisiana rolled off an 8-0 run highlighted by two excellent transition baskets by Jasmine Barnes to move within five points, 47-42, by 8:06. However, the Golden Panthers turned to Bosilj to return the lead to double digits and secure the victory.

The first eight-plus minutes of the game were evenly played with FIU leading by no more than three points and the score tied three times. Louisiana picked up its first and only lead of game at 12:09 when Johnson made the second of two free throws for a 10-9 lead.

The Golden Panthers then rattled off seven unanswered points with a pair of baskets by Jasmine Jenkins being the bookends of the run which vaulted FIU into a 16-10 advantage.

The FIU lead grew to nine points, 23-14, at 7:33 on a jumper by Michelle Gonzalez.

Green provided a spark for Louisiana which helped the hosts close within five points three minutes later. Green fired home three 3-pointers during the time span with her third long-distance make cutting the FIU lead to 30-25 with 4:28 left in the opening half.

FIU regained the nine-point lead two minutes later scoring four unanswered by the 2:30 mark.

That was enough cushion for the Golden Panthers to hold onto the lead at the half. UL received triples from Johnson and Green to end the half and close to deficit to 36-31.

The Ragin' Cajuns return to action with a pair of road games to begin the second half of Sun Belt West Division play. The Cajuns will travel to Denton, Texas to take on North Texas on Saturday, Feb. 7, before heading to Monroe to take on in-state and conference rival ULM on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

-www.RaginCajuns.com-

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