University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
South Alabama (DH)
USA Three-Point Shooting Downs Cajuns
1/30/2011 5:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The University of Louisiana women's basketball team trailed by two points in the early stages of the second half, but South Alabama's perimeter shooting was too much as the Ragin Cajuns fell 82-66 on Sunday afternoon at the Mitchell Center in Mobile, Ala.
South Alabama (13-8, 5-4 Sun Belt) opened up to a nine point lead in the first half, but the Cajuns (10-12, 3-6 Sun Belt) sliced it to five at the half. UL pulled within two, 50-48, with 13:32 remaining in the game. However, a 19-7 run by USA helped the Lady Jags clinched their fifth victory in conference action.
The Lady Jags drained 11 three-pointers, including five in the second half. USA shot 42 percent (27-of-65), while UL was 26-of-66 from the field for 39 percent. South Alabama edged the Cajuns in rebounds, 47-40.
Mercedes Johnson led Louisiana with a game-best 21 points, notching her fourth game this season where she has reached 20-plus points. The junior forward pulled in four rebounds, while dishing out an assist.
Reaching double figures for consecutive games was D'Mya Clay. The senior tallied 10 points and pulled in a season-best seven rebounds.
Lafayette native Lyndra Bell tied a career-high with 10 rebounds, while dishing out a pair of assists. Bell finished with seven points.
Junior Kemi Rotibi inked eight points, including recording her 24th and 25th blocks of the season.
Three Lady Jags tallied double-digits, including Siedah Banks with a team-high 19 points.
Louisiana trailed 38-33 at the half, rallying from a nine point deficit with six minutes remaining in the first half. At the break, the Cajuns and Lady Jags both shot 13-of-34 from the floor for 38 percent. UL held the edge in rebounds, 24-to-21.
Johnson led UL with 11 points, reaching double-figures for the seventh time in the first half.
Scoring went back-and-forth in the first six minutes of the contest. South Alabama tallied consecutive baskets to take a 20-14 lead at the 11:46 mark.
Lauren Walker drained a triple to put the Lady Jags up 23-19 with 10-plus minutes in the first.
USA notched a 10-2 run to lead by as many as nine. Danyell Oliver's basket at 6:01 snapped a four-minute scoreless skid for the Cajuns. Oliver, along with teammate Danielle Smith, finished with six points each.
Louisiana cut the deficit to 34-28 when Mercedes Johnson drained a basket and a free throw.
UL proceeded to tally five more unanswered points to cut USA's lead to 36-33 at 1:22. South Alabama added a basket to take a 38-33 lead into the half.
In the first three minutes of the second half, South Alabama expanded their lead to eight, 46-38, at 17:16.
The Ragin' Cajuns then proceeded on an 8-to-4 run to cut the Lady Jags' lead to 50-48 at 13:35.
South Alabama followed up with a 19-to-7 run to take a commanding 16-point lead with six minutes left in the contest.
UL couldn't stop the Lady Jags three-point shooting as USA drained their 11th triple to take a 73-58 lead with 4:16 left in the game.
The Cajuns pulled within 11 with one-plus minute remaining in the contest, but South Alabama was able to extend their lead at the free throw line.
Louisiana returns home next Saturday for a contest with UALR. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 pm inside Earl K. Long Gym.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
