University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
La.-Monroe
Solid Shooting Lifts Warhawks over UL, 76-65
1/22/2011 11:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UL (9-11, 2-5 Sun Belt) trailed by four in the first half and pulled within seven late in the second half. However, a pair of runs by La.-Monroe (10-10, 4-3 Sun Belt) at the end of the first and the beginning of the second half helped the Warhawks reach the .500 mark on the season. The Cajuns' losing streak extends to a season-longest four games.
Offensively, the Cajuns shot 48 percent (25-of-52) from the floor, while La.-Monroe drained 51 percent (28-of-55). The Warhawks controlled the boards pulling in 39 compared to UL's 20.
The Ragin' Cajuns were stout defensively, forcing 27 turnovers, while turning it over 20 times. Louisiana has forced 20-plus turnovers in 10 contests this season.
Mercedes Johnson drained a game-high 26 points, including picking up three steals and swatting away two shots. Johnson moved all the way into sixth place on UL's all-time scoring list, passing four former Cajuns in the process.
The Houston native has scored 1,091 points in 79 career games, passing Yolanda Jones' (2005-2007) mark of 1,090 points.
Nearing double-figures were Lyndra Bell and Danyell Oliver with nine points each. Bell shot 4-of-8 from the floor, pulling in three rebounds. Oliver had two triples for six of her nine points.
Danielle Smith tied for a team lead with four rebounds and picked up eight points against the Warhawks.
The Ragin' Cajuns trailed by four at the conclusion of the first half as La.-Monroe closed out on an 8-2 run. UL shot 50 percent (14-of-28), as the Warhawks connected on 48 percent (14-of-29). La.-Monroe dominated the boards, 21-9, in the opening period.
Johnson drained 16 points in the first half, marking the sixth time she had scored 10-plus points in the first half.
The Cajuns started on a 7-2 run, coupled with four points from Johnson, but La.-Monroe answered on a 10-to-2 run to lead 12-9 early in the contest.
Johnson's layup put the Cajuns within one, 14-13, at the 10:13 mark. The game trended back and forth and was tied at 19 with 8:20 left in the game.
Nicole Morris drained a triple to put the Cajuns up, 24-21 with less than five minute remaining in the half.
The Warhawks answered with 15 points in the final five minutes, including six points by Kassie Courtney. In the final minute of the half, Johnson added a pair of points to help UL pull within two, but Courtney connected on two free throws to give La.-Monroe a four-point lead at the half.
La.-Monroe started a 10-4 run to begin the second half. The Ragin' Cajuns pulled within six, but the Warhawks answered with three consecutive points to extend the lead to nine.
Another triple by La.-Monroe extended the lead to 55-43 with 11:43 left in the contest. Kemi Rotibi answered with two consecutive layups, helping Louisiana make it a 55-47 contest.
Krystal Motley hit a corner triple to help Louisiana pull within seven at the 7:05 mark.
The Warhawks kept a 10-point for most of the second half. A pair of Johnson free throws sliced the La.-Monroe lead to eight with 3:22 remaining.
With 2:50 left in the game, Bell drained a three-pointer for UL to pull within seven. Elizabeth Torres answered with a fade-away triple to help La.-Monroe extend the lead to 70-60 with 1:48 left in the game.
Torres finished with 14 points, while her teammate Priscilla Mbiandja also tallied 14.
Oliver hit a triple with a 1:13 to help UL cut the deficit to within nine, 72-63. Louisiana battled until the end, but La.-Monroe connected on four points in the final minute to secure their 10th win of the season.
Louisiana remains at Earl K. Long Gym with a midweek matchup against North Texas. UL defeated the Mean Green, 65-54, in Denton on Jan. 1. Tip-off for Wednesday's game is scheduled for 7 pm.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
