University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
South Alabama
WBB Ends Season in Hot Springs
3/6/2010 9:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The difference in the game was free throws, as USA converted 13 in the final 3:21 to hold off a furious rally by the Cajuns.
A painful loss for UL, as the Cajuns missed 15 free throws in the game, shooting just 37.5 percent from the charity stripe (9-of-24). The Jaguars made 82.6 percent of their free throws (19-of-23).
USA (15-15) advances to face Western Kentucky in the quarterfinals on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
UL ends the season with a record of 9-22. The Cajuns' nine wins are the most in a season under head coach Errol Rogers.
UL couldn't get the necessary defensive stops early in the second half to make a run. The Cajuns got the momentum late, but simply ran out of time.
USA hadn't allowed more than two consecutive baskets in the second half until the Cajuns used a 14-4 spurt to trim their deficit to eight points with 3:42 remaining.
The Jaguars kept their distance by making free throws In fact, the last basket scored by USA was at the 4:25 mark.
A triple by Alexis Green cut the USA lead to 77-71 with 56.4 seconds left and a triple by Mercedes Johnson made it 80-76 with 14.5 seconds left.
The Jaguars shot 41.4 percent over the final 20 minutes, including 44.4 percent from three-point range (4-of-9).
Green led the Cajuns with 24 points. Johnson scored 14 points and Jasmine Barnes added 10 points, eight rebounds and a game-high six assists.
Christian Shelter led USA with 20 points. Morriah Smith scored 17 points, while Cylenthia Kennon added 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
The Cajuns had 52 rebounds, their second highest total of the season, and limited their turnovers to just 14.
Shelter hit a three-pointer 36 seconds into the game and USA never trailed.
The Jaguars jumped out to a quick 15-5 lead thanks to 11 points and three rebounds from Shelter.
The Cajuns struggled to adjust to the blue shooting background of Summit Arena. UL shot 31.4 percent from the floor in first half, including 18.2 percent from three-point range (2-of-11) and a dismal 25 percent from the free throw line (2-of-8).
Despite a 27.8 percent clip from three-point range (5-of-18), the Jaguars shot 39.5 percent in the opening 20 minutes to take a 39-26 lead at the break.
