University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
New Orleans
Louisiana Routs Lady Privateers, 80-63
12/19/2010 8:26:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Louisiana (7-5) jumped out to a 31 point lead at the half, but New Orleans (0-11) outscored the Cajuns 45-to-31 in the second half. UL handled the boards, out-manning the Lady Privateers 53-to-30 in the rebounds column. The 53 rebounds was a season best for the Cajuns. Sunday's victory gave the Ragin' Cajuns their best start since the 2006-2007 campaign.
UL made 32 field goals out of 72 attempts for 44 percent, while holding UNO to just 39 percent (24-of-62).
Lyndra Bell reached a new career high with 19 points, while leading the Cajuns. The Lafayette native made 67 percent of her shots (8-of-12), while pulling in five rebounds and recording an assist and steal. Bell surpassed her previous career-best of 18 points set against Southeastern Louisiana on Dec. 5.
Junior Mercedes Johnson had a solid performance on Sunday, reaching a double-double for the first time this season. Johnson, a native of Houston, scored 17 points and reeled in a career-high 19 rebounds. She bested her career rebounds mark by three, set at Florida Atlantic on Feb. 10, 2010. Johnson also broke a 25-year old Cajundome record of 16 set by Aronji Johnson against Tulane on Nov. 23, 1985.
Also reaching double-digits was senior Jasmine Barnes, who inked 10 points and six boards in 21 minutes. Barnes, who leads the Cajuns in field goal percentage, banked 71 percent (5-of-7) of her shots.
Danyell Oliver tallied seven points for UL, recording five of her points from the free throw line. D'Mya Clay notched six points with two rebounds in 11 minutes of action.
Michelle Brunker and Jean-Marie Allen each inked five points. Allen's point total tied her career-high set at UNO earlier this season on Nov. 29.
Four Lady Privateers reached double-figures as UNO scored their most points against a NCAA Division I opponent this season. Dinnelle Corimer tallied 16 points to lead the Lady Privateers.
Louisiana started off the contest on a 21-to-6 run and never looked back, taking a 49-18 lead into the half. Bell notched 12 points, while Johnson tied her career high and the Cajundome record in rebounds with 16.
Barnes, Oliver and Bell all made inside baskets to give the Cajuns the early advantage. Bell added eight points within the first six minutes, while Bell scored six.
Kemi Rotibi added an inside basket to put the Cajuns up 18-2 with 12:14 remaining in the half.
Johnson pulled in 10 rebounds in just the first 12 minutes of the contests, while scoring four points. Louisiana extended their lead to 22 with 6:57 remaining in the first half.
The Lady Privateers closed out the half with six points, but Louisiana ended the half with 49 points. The 49 points for the Cajuns was two shy of the team's season-best points in a half, set at New Orleans on Nov. 29.
In the second half, New Orleans started out on a 14-to-2 run, which was catapulted by a trifecta of made three pointers. UNO cut the Cajuns' lead to 58-34 with 16:05 remaining in the contest.
New Orleans pulled within 16 at 8:53 with a layup from Mirjam Sipos. Bell answered with a jumper, giving Louisiana the 67-49 advantage.
Scarlet Harris hit a pair of free throws to make it a 67-51 contest at 6:42. Clay inked her first three-pointer at 6:10 to help UL reach the 70-point plateau.
The Lady Privateers pulled within 11 with less than two minutes to go in the contest. UL again answered adding four points from bell as UL reached 80 points for the third time this season.
UL will embark on a three-game road trip beginning on Tuesday at Southeastern Louisiana. On Dec. 5, the Cajuns defeated the Lady Lions 67-57 at Earl K. Long Gym. Tip-off for Tuesday's contest will be at 7 pm inside the University Center in Hammond, La.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
