Cajuns Fall on the Road Against Denver

Box Score

The Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team dropped a 71-47 decision to Denver Wednesday evening at Magness Arena as the host-Pioneers used decisive advantages in three-point field goals and second-chance points to claim the victory.

DU (17-11, 9-5 Sun Belt) outscored the Cajuns 21-3 from beyond the arc and 18-3 in second-chance points, two factors which played a key part in the outcome.

Louisiana (5-21, 0-14 Sun Belt) only attempted six three-point field goals and was out-rebounded 44-25.

The Cajuns were led by Brooklyn Arceneaux's 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Morgan Van Riper-Rose's 21 points were the highest amongst five Pioneers who scored at least nine points.

UL trailed by just two points with 10:51 left in the first half until the Pioneers used a 21-7 run to claim a 16-point edge at halftime. The contest got away from the Cajuns as DU scored the first 14 points of the second stanza to increase the lead to 30 points, 51-21, with 15:35 remaining.

The contest marked Louisiana's final trip to Denver for a Sun Belt Conference contest as the Pioneers are leaving the league for the WAC.

The Cajuns play their final road game of the 2011-12 regular season on Saturday in Denton, Texas against North Texas at The Super Pit. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m., in a Sun Belt Network broadcast.

It was a quick start for both squads as each shot above 50 percent in the first five-plus minutes. The Pioneers clung to an 11-8 lead at the first media timeout.

The Cajuns pulled within two points twice inside of 12 minutes of play with baskets from Robbie Brown and Michelle Brunker, the latter cutting the DU lead to 16-14 with 10:51 left in the opening stanza.

The start to the game was much better for UL than the first meeting at Earl K. Long Gym back on Feb. 1. On that night the Cajuns fell behind 19-2 in the first six minutes.

Turnovers limited the Cajuns' effectiveness over the next four minutes. A string of three turnovers aided the Pioneers 6-0 run which pushed the hosts' lead into double figures for the first time at 25-14 by the 8:21 mark.

Laurie' Beaty hit a scoop shot through traffic at 7:32 to make it 25-16. Jordan Johnston connected on a trey for DU on the ensuing possession then Smith came up with a steal that led to a layup at 6:42 and quickly the Pioneers led 30-16.

An Arceneaux basket at the three-minute mark was only field goal make by UL in the final six minutes of the opening stanza preventing the squad from cutting into the Denver lead.

The Pioneers led 37-21 at the break in large part to a 5-0 edge in three-point baskets made and 10-0 advantage in second-chance points.

Denver began the second half an 11-0 run in the first four minutes which extended the lead to 48-21 by the first media timeout and left little doubt in the outcome.

A second-chance opportunity led to a Alison Janecek three-point play at 15:35 and the Pioneers lead reached 30 points for the first time at 51-21.

Samantha Roy had an assist on a Krystal Motley basket at 14:37 and drove through the lane for a layup at 13:28 to produce a string of four unanswered points that made it 51-25.

Arceneaux made a spin move for a layup at 9:22 that cut the DU lead to 59-33. The Cajuns made three defensive stops – a missed field goal and two DU turnovers – but couldn't cash in as Brown and Morris missed field goal attempts.

Following a timeout Van Riper-Rose drained a triple on the right elbow at 8:10 to push the DU lead to 62-33.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

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