University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
FIU
No Mercedes Johnson: Cajuns Fall at FIU
2/9/2011 11:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball
It's hard to find offense when you lose a player with 1,142 career points, but that's exactly what Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns tried to overcome on Wednesday night at U.S. Century Bank Arena.
Unfortunately, Louisiana (10-14, 3-8) couldn't muster enough points, falling 62-52 at FIU (12-14, 7-5).
Leading scoring Mercedes Johnson didn't suit-up for UL and her status for the Cajuns' next game is uncertain.
The game was decided in the second half, as the Cajuns could not establish a rebounding presence or find a go-to scorer in the final nine minutes. UL scored only eight points and grabbed just five boards, while committing six turnovers over the final nine minutes.
Trailing by one point with 9:43 to play, FIU took over the game with a 13-1 run. The Cajuns were never able to regroup.
Lyndra Bell led three Cajuns in double figures with 14 points. D'Mya Clay scored 12 points and Jasmine Barnes added 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
The Cajuns took a quick six-point lead in the first three minutes of the second half, but FIU answered with an 8-0 run to reclaim the lead.
UL responded with baskets from Kemi Rotibi and Clay to take back the lead with 12:42 to play.
Despite tough defense by the Cajuns, Michelle Gonzalez drained a long triple as the shot clock expired to give FIU back the lead at the 11:39 mark. Although the Cajuns would get back within one point, the Golden Panthers never trailed again.
Gonzalez led all players with 16 points.
As a team, the Cajuns shot 39 percent for the game (18-of-46) and just 26 percent from the three-point line (5-of-19). FIU had 18 steals on 24 Cajuns turnovers.
UL led over the first 12 minutes of the game thanks to scoring by five different players, including eight points from Clay.
Three missed shots and five turnovers by the Cajuns in the next five-plus minutes contributed to FIU's 11-0 run. FIU took their first lead of the game, 23-21, at the 4:23 mark and extended it to 25-21 with 2:38 to play in the first half.
The Cajuns defense held the Golden Panthers scoreless the rest of the half and Bell scored on back-to-back possessions to tie the game at 25-25 after the opening 20 minutes. Bell finished the first half with eight points.
Louisiana will face Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton on Saturday, Feb. 12. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 pm CT.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
