Cajuns Recover From Slow Start to Top Bethune-Cookman

Box Score

The Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team overcame an early 10 point deficit and comeback to beat Bethune-Cookman Friday evening 72-67 at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Fla.

UL (5-5, 0-0) shot 47 percent from the field and had three players finish in double figures. Olivia Nino and Laurie' Beaty each had 12 points, while Mercedes Johnson added 11 points. Robbie Brown had six of the Cajun's 14 steals on the game resulting in a career-best for the freshman guard.

The Lady Wildcats (1-7, 0-1) also had three players in double figures. Jasmine Elum led the way with 18 points and Cleniece Roberts finished with 11 points and nine rebounds. Demetria Frank posted an impressive stat line of 11 points and 11 rebounds, while dishing out seven assists and had six steals.

With Krystal Motley sitting out for the second straight game due to an injury, the Cajuns continued to have bad luck as Kemi Rotibi went down at the 19:32 mark. Rotibi landed awkwardly on her knee as she was attempting to come down with a rebound.

Bethune-Cookman took advantage and went out to an early lead on a three pointer by Elum to give the home team an 11-4 lead.

The Lady Wildcats shot very well to start the game, including Jalisa Isaac connecting on three straights baskets to increase the BCU lead to 18-8 with 11:59 left in the half.

With the Ragin' Cajuns trailing 27-19, they responded with a Josie West three pointer as the shot clock expired and a Brandi Schambough trey from the top of the arc to cut the score to 27-25.

Sophomore guard Bianca Davis got a shooters bounce and drained Louisiana's third three of the half to even the score 31-31 at the 1:31 mark.

The Lady Wildcats shot 57 percent from the field in the half and went into the locker rooms with a 35-33 lead. Elum led BCU in scoring with 11 points.

Nino led the Cajuns in scoring with eight points, and Robbie Brown had five of Louisiana's nine steals in the first stanza.

Johnson made two free throws to give UL their first lead of the ballgame 36-35. Johnson's free throws were part of a 13-0 Cajun run to start the second half, making the score 46-35 with 14:18 remaining.

Kiara Redmond made a basket to finish off a 13-4 Bethune-Cookman run and cut the Ragin' Cajuns lead to two points at 50-48.

UL responded right back with another run scoring 10 straight points. Senior Nicole Morris hit two threes during the stretch giving Louisiana their biggest lead of the game 60-48 with 7:30 left in the game.

Frank trimmed the Cajun lead to 60-56 on a jumper from the free throw line. Johnson scored on the next possession for UL and Michelle Brunker followed it with a three pointer giving the Cajuns a nine point lead, 65-56.

Bethune-Cookman had no quit in them as Elum made a floater in the lane with 1:20 remaining, cutting into the Cajun lead 68-64.

A three pointer from Khalilah Quigley got BCU as close as three points at 70-67, but two free throws from Beaty iced the game for the Ragin' Cajuns.

The 72-point output from the Cajuns was the most points they have scored this season. UL forced the Lady Wildcats into 21 turnovers and held them to 29 percent shooting from the field in the second half.

Louisiana will wrap up their three game road swing as they travel to Starksville, Mississippi on Monday, December 19, against Mississippi State at 7:00 p.m.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Cajuns Recover From Slow Start to Top Bethune-Cookman

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