Women's Basketball Takes on FIU in SBC Tourney Opener

Contact: Cory Weigel

Game Notes

GAME CENTER
Date: March 3, 2012
Location: Hot Springs, Ark.
Site: Summit Arena
Times: 12:00 p.m.
Opponent: Florida International

LOUISIANA
11-12 Record____________________     7-22
11-12 Sun Belt Record_____________     1-15
Last Game______________________      Feb. 25, 2012
                                                                              vs. ULM W, 82-65
Head Coach_____________________      Errol Rogers
   UL Record_____________________      38-112 (5^th Season)
   Rogers vs. FIU__________________      0-5
Web Site________________________     www.RaginCajuns.com

FIU
11-12 Record____________________      20-9
11-12 Sun Belt Record_____________      10-6
Last Game______________________       Feb. 25, 2012
                                                                               vs. South Alabama W, 58-55 (OT)
Head Coach_____________________       Cindy Russo
   FIU Record_____________________       627-327 (33rd Season)
   Russo vs. UL____________________     15-6
Web Site________________________      www.fiusports.com

GAME NIGHT STORY LINES
>>>The Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team are coming off a week where they finished 2-0. Louisiana topped Nebraska Omaha on Monday, 62-60 in overtime, snapping a 17 game losing streak dating back to their last victory on December 16 against Bethune- Cookman. UL won their second straight game with an 82-65 victory over ULM on Senior Night, Saturday, in the Cajundome.
>>>Florida International won the only other meeting of the year, 78-48, on January 14. The Cajuns allowed a season-high 33-of-60 (.550) from the field by the Panthers.
>>>Louisiana will look to repeat its success on the perimeter defense after holding Florida International to 0-for-8 from downtown last meeting.
>>>The Ragin' Cajuns were led in scoring by Josie West who poured in 15 points and grabbed four boards in the last meeting. FIU had three players finish in double-figures, including Jerica Coley (22) and Fanni Hutlassa (21).
>>>FIU ranks second in the SBC in both scoring offense (63.4) and scoring defense (55.5). Louisiana is second to last in scoring offense (52.1) and last in scoring defense (66.2)
>>>Saturday's matchup will feature two of the top eight scorers in the conference. FIU's Coley is first in the leage averaging 24.0 points per game, while UL's Krystal Motley ranks eighth putting up 13.8 points per contest.
>>>The Ragin' Cajuns come in second in the SBC with 265 steals on the year. The Panthers are third in the conference with 362 assists.

NOTES AND TRENDS
>>>The 82 points scored are the most points put up by UL this year. Their previous high was 72 points against Bethune-Cookman earlier in the year.
>>>The Cajuns made a season-high field goals going 30-of-58 (.517) from the floor, marking the highest field goal percentage for the squad this year.
>>>The team was 15-for-16 (.938) from the charity stripe, which is the best they have shot from the free throw line on the year. The squad narrowly missed setting a new season-high with seven three pointers made out of 11 attempts - they hit eight triples against Nicholls State on November 17.
>>>Robbie Brown, Nicole Morris, Josie West, and Megan Whittaker are the only Ragin' Cajuns to play in all 29 games this season.

SENIOR NIGHT-ITIS?
>>>Louisiana had five players reach double-figures - including all three seniors - for just the second time all season on Saturday for Senior Night. Brooklyn Arceneaux, Robbie Brown, Michelle Brunker, Nicole Morris, and Krystal Motley all reached the double-digit plateau.
>>>Krystal Motley scored 26 points against Nebraska Omaha leading the way for the Cajuns. 21 of the senior's points came in the second half and she has now reached 20-plus points four times this season. The Houston native paced the Cajuns in scoring with 19 points against Louisiana-Monroe. Motley has now led UL in scoring in 16 games and is averaging 13.8 points per game on the year.
>>>Nicole Morris tallied a season-best 14 points, converting on 4-of-5 field goals from downtown against ULM. The senior also posted eight rebounds and four assists.
>>>Michelle Brunker scored 12 points in a career-high 39 minutes against UNO. The San Diego native followed up her performance with 10 points and four rebounds on Saturday. The senior has now scored in double-figures six times this year.
>>>Freshman Robbie Brown tied an individual-best with six steals against UNO. Brown followed up her performace by scoring a career-high 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field against Louisiana-Monroe.
>>>Brooklyn Arceneaux recorded her first career double-double scoring a career-high 12 points and pulled down a personal-best 10 rebounds against Nebraska Omaha.
>>>Laurie' Beaty totaled 11 points and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line vs. the Warhawks.

WHERE CAJUNS RANK IN THE SBC
>>>Two-time LSWA Player of the Week winner, Krystal Motley, scored a career-high 36 points on January 11 against South Alabama, which is tied with FIU's Jerica Coley as the most points scored by a Sun Belt player this year. She is averaging 13.8 points per game - eighth in the SBC.
>>>UL ranks second in the Sun Belt Conference with 265 steals on the year, averaging 9.1 per contest.

SHORTHANDED
>>>Louisiana is playing without seniors Kemi Rotibi (injury) and Mercedes Johnson (personal reasons) who have been out since December 19.
>>>The duo was averaging a combined 18.2 points and 13.3 rebounds per contest on the season.

SERIES HISTORY (FIU Leads 15-6)
>>>The first game between the two schools was played back on January 21, 1999. Florida International won the contest 81-60.
>>>The Panthers won the only matchup between the teams this year, 78-48, on January 14, at the Cajundome. Josie West led the Cajuns with 15 points, while Jerica Coley had 22 for Florida International.
>>>Head coach Errol Rogers is seeking his first career win against Florida International. FIU coach Cindy Russo is 15-6 against the Cajuns in her career.

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Women's Basketball Takes on FIU in SBC Tourney Opener

Next Event

Footer

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics