Cajuns Cant Overcome Slow Start, Fall to FIU

Box Score

Louisiana couldn't overcome a slow start and hot shooting from Florida International as they fell Saturday evening 78-48 at the Cajundome.

UL (5-12, 0-5) was led in scoring by junior Josie West who scored a career-high 15 points and garnered four rebounds. Freshman Brooklyn Arceneaux also posted a personal-best scoring nine points, all of which coming in the second half.

Florida International (12-6, 2-3) had three players finish in double-figures. Jerica Coley paced the Panthers with 22 points and nine rebounds, while dishing out five assists. Fanni Hutlassa poured in 21 points and tallied six rebounds. Finda Mansare recorded a double-double finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

FIU got off to a quick start and went into the first media timeout with a 6-0 advantage after a basket from Hutlassa.

Jean-Marie Allen earned her second start of the season and converted on a put back after a missed shot to cut into the Panther's lead making the score 9-4.

Florida International rattled off 12 of the next 14 points in a three and a half minute span to extend their lead to 21-6 with 8:44 remaining in the first half.

Cold shooting doomed the Ragin' Cajuns as FIU went on an 8-1 run making the score 29-7 at the 4:37 mark.

West made a layup after getting good post position and Laurie' Beaty hit a baseline jumper to get the Cajuns in double-figures making the score 29-11.

The Panthers scored six of the final seven points of the half to go into the locker rooms with a 35-12 lead.

Louisiana shot 18 percent from the field and was outrebounded on the glass 23-16 in the first stanza.

West led the Cajuns with five points and two rebounds. Beaty chipped in three points and Robbie Brown grabbed four rebounds.

Florida International shot 45 percent from the floor and was led in scoring by Hutlassa who had 15 points and four rebounds. Coley added 12 points and six rebounds in the first 20 minutes of action.

Krystal Motley scored the first two baskets for UL to start the second half has the teams traded field goals making the score 37-16 at the 18:15 mark of the second half.

The Panthers ran off the next six points before Louisiana's Allen attempted her first three of the season and nailed it from the top of the key cutting into the FIU lead, 43-19.

With Florida International leading 52-23, The Ragin' Cajuns used a 7-0 run on two buckets from Arceneaux and a three-pointer from Megan Whittaker making the score 52-30 with 12:20 left in the contest.

Louisiana used another 7-0 scoring spurt that included Arceneaux knocking down her first three ball of the year cutting into the Panther advantage, 58-39.

The Cajuns wouldn't get any closer as Florida International continued to extend their lead until the final buzzer sounded.

The Ragin' Cajuns shot the ball much better in the second 20 minutes converting on 14-of-33 (.424) from the floor. FIU outrebounded Louisiana in the game 42-28.

UL will continue conference play as they hit the road to face UALR on Wednesday, January 18. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Cajuns Cant Overcome Slow Start, Fall to FIU

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