University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Denver
DU Shoots Lights Out to Down Cajuns
2/25/2011 12:02:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The University of Louisiana women's basketball team couldn't cool down the hot shooting of Denver as the Pioneers picked up an 82-39 victory inside the Cajundome on Thursday evening in front a season-best home crowd of 752 fans.
The Pioneers (18-10, 10-5 Sun Belt) made 56 percent of their shots, connecting on 32 of 57 attempts from the floor. Louisiana (11-17, 4-11 Sun Belt) was held to a season-low 39 points, shooting another season-low of 26 percent (15-of-58) from the floor.
Back in full strength since battling an illness, Mercedes Johnson notched her 20th double-digit mark of the season, leading Louisiana with a team-best 12 points.
Baton Rouge native Jasmine Barnes tallied 11 points with six rebounds. Barnes is second on the Cajuns squad this season with 15 double-digit performances. Before the game, Barnes, Lyndra Bell and D'Mya Clay were each recognized as part of the Cajuns' annual senior day.
On the boards, the Pioneers out-rebounded UL, 43-to-25, while out-scoring the Cajuns 44-to-10 inside the paint.
Four Denver players reached double-figures. Kaetlyn Murdoch and Quincey Noonan led the way for DU, each scoring 17 points.
In the first half, Denver hit 55 percent of their shots from the floor (17-of-31) to lead the Ragin' Cajuns, 41-18, at the break. Louisiana was held to a season-low 18 points at the half, shooting 8-of-26 for 31 percent at the floor.
Murdoch scored eight of Denver's 15 first points as the Pioneers opened to a 15-9 lead at the 11:45 mark.
A pair of baskets by Krystal Motley cut Louisiana's deficit to seven. DU added four more triples to expand their lead to 19 points at the 3:36 mark. Denver finished 9-of-15 from the three-point arch for 60 percent.
The junior Murdoch added four more points just under the minute mark to give the Pioneers a 41-18 advantage at the half.
Denver came out firing in the second half, opening on a 16-to-3 run.
Johnson inked her 20th double-figure contest of the season, banking seven of her 12 points in the second half.
Denver broke out to a 45-point lead with 2:16 left in the contest. UL followed with a basket to cut the deficit to 43-points. The Pioneers' advantage gave Louisiana their largest margin of defeat this season.
The Ragin' Cajuns close out the 2010-11 regular season on the road at La.-Monroe on Saturday afternoon at Fant-Ewing Coliseum in Monroe. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
