UL Falls To USA Despite Career-High 36 From Motley

Box Score

The Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team fell on Wednesday night to South Alabama 72-68 at Earl K. Long Gym.

Louisiana (5-11, 0-4) was led in scoring by senior Krystal Motley who scored a career-high 36 points. Motley shot 16-of-28 from the field including 4-for-5 from downtown. The senior had 21 of her points in the second half and pulled down six rebounds in her effort as well.

Megan Whittaker also finished in double figures with 13 points while Josie West added five points and a team-high seven rebounds.

USA (10-6, 3-1) had three players finish with double-digit points. Sarda Peterson was the leading scorer with 23 points and connected on five three-pointers. Taylor Ammons had 15 points and garnered 12 rebounds while Mary Nixon chipped in 13 points.

South Alabama scored the first three points of the game on free throws giving the Lady Jaguars a 3-0 lead to start the game.

Motley responded by scoring the first nine Ragin' Cajun's points, sparking a 9-2 UL run making the score 9-5 going into the first media timeout.

A three pointer from Peterson completed a stretch in which South Alabama scored eight of the next 10 points taking a 13-11 advantage.

Olivio Nino and West each knocked down baseline jumpers for the Cajuns in their next two possessions to regain the lead 15-13 with 10:56 remaining in the first stanza.

After USA retook the lead with consecutive buckets, the Cajuns responded by making three pointers on their next three made field goals making the score 23-20 in favor of Louisiana.

UL took its final lead of the first half on a Motley jumper from the top of the key at the 4:10 mark for a 27-25 advantage.

The Lady Jaguars ended the half on a 10-2 run giving them a 35-29 lead going into the locker rooms.

The teams traded field goals in the first half, which consisted of seven ties and 12 lead changes.

Motley paced the Ragin' Cajuns in the first stanza with 15 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field. West and Whittaker each chipped in five points.

South Alabama had two players in double figures in the half. Ammons and Peterson each had 10 points apiece.

With the Lady Jaguars leading 36-30, Robbie Brown took a fast break layup cutting the USA advantage to four.

Minutes later Motley took her opponent off the dribble and nailed a jump shot as the shot clock was winding down. She continued the charge as she drilled a three pointer from the top of the key and made a runner in the lane completing a 9-0 scoring run and giving the Cajuns a 39-36 lead with 13:49 left in the game.

Whittaker followed up a Brooklyn Arceneaux miss as she put the ball in the hoop after grabbing the rebound and drawing a foul. Whittaker completed the three-point play by converting on the free throw for a 46-41 Louisiana lead.

The visitors embarked on a 19-5 scoring spurt over an eight-minute span putting the Lady Jaguars in front 60-51 with 2:28 remaining.

The Cajuns had no quit in them as they continued to pressure and make field goals down the stretch to cut into the USA lead. Whittaker and Motley connected on back-to-back threes making the score 70-68.

Peterson knocked down two free throws with seven seconds remaining to ice the game as the Lady Jaguars walked out of Earl K. Long Gym with a four-point win.

Louisiana returns to action on Saturday, January 14, against Florida International at the Cajundome. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

UL Falls To USA Despite Career-High 36 From Motley

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