Women's Hoops Closes Out Florida Trip on Saturday in Miami

Contact: Matt Hebert

Game Notes

GAME CENTER
Date: Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013
Location: Miami, Fla.
Opponent: FIU (8-5, 2-2 Sun Belt)
Site: U.S. Century Bank Arena (5,000)
Game Time: 4:30 p.m. (CST)
Live Stats/Video: www.FIUsports.com
Radio: Sports Radio ESPN 1420-AM (Jay Walker)

LOUISIANA-FIU SERIES
The Series: FIU leads 16-6
In Miami: FIU leads 7-2
Series Streak: FIU – won 6
Last Meeting: FlU 74, Louisiana 53 (Hot Springs, Ark. // March 3, 2012)
Noteworthy: All of Louisiana's wins over FIU came in J. Kelley Hall Era. The Cajuns went 6-3 with Hall at the helm.

LOUISIANA
12-13 Record____________________ 7-7
12-13 Sun Belt Record_____________ 1-4
Last Game______________________      Jan. 2, 2013
at Florida Atlantic L, 44-79
Head Coach____________________ Garry Brodhead
   UL Record____________________ 7-7 (1^st Season)
   Career Record_________________       Same
   Brodhead vs. FIU_______________ First Meeting
Web Site_______________________ www.RaginCajuns.com

FIU
12-13 Record____________________     8-5
12-13 Sun Belt Record_____________ 2-2
Last Game______________________     Jan. 2, 2013
at Florida A&M W, 70-69
Head Coach____________________       Cindy Russo
   FIU Record____________________ 638-334 (34^thSeason)
   Career Record_________________      678-356 (36^th Season)
   Russo vs. UL__________________ 21-6
Web Site_______________________     www.FIUsports.com

Game Night Story Lines
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team wraps up their trip to south Florida at U.S. Century Bank Arena in Miami on Saturday, Jan. 5, seeking to bring their record back above the .500 mark. Louisiana squares off with FIU at 4:30 p.m. (CST).
>>> Saturday's game is the first of two this month between UL and FIU. The Panthers return the visit on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at Earl K. Long Gym.
>>> A game removed from having to fend off the three-point shooters of FAU, the Ragin' Cajuns will have to fend off the Panthers' triple threat of Sun Belt leading scorer Jerica Coley (24.1 ppg), third-leading rebounder Marita Davydova (8.8 rpg) and Fina Mansare (8.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg).
>>> Three days ago he faced off with a rookie collegiate head coach like himself (FAU's Kellie Lewis-Jay). On Saturday, Garry Brodhead matches wits with women's basketball coaching legend Cindy Russo of FIU (678-356 in 36th season overall).
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns look to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since losing three straight Nov. 16-24 (Neb.-Omaha, Nicholls, Middle TN).
>>> At the halfway point of the season, the Ragin' Cajuns have already equaled their win total from last season (7-23).
>>> Louisiana is 4-3 since returning from final exams break (Dec. 2-10).
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns lead the Sun Belt and rank 26th nationally in steals per game.
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns are undefeated (6-0) when holding opponents below 40 percent shooting. Held UALR to a season-low 31.7 percent (20-of-63).
>>> Freshman Sylvana Okde ranks Top 20 in the Sun Belt in scoring (11.4 ppg) and leads the league averaging 2.6 three-point makes per outing. Okde buried seven treys in the triumph at Tulane (12/19) and has made at least three in a game six times.

LAST TIME OUT: Florida Atlantic 79, Louisiana 44 at FAU Arena (Boca Raton, Fla.)
Florida Atlantic made 11 three-pointers, including five during a decisive 19-5 run midway through the second half, as Ragin' Cajuns dropped a 79-44 decision to the Owls
While Florida Atlantic was shooting 48 percent from three-point (11-of-23), setting a season-high for three-pointers by a UL opponent, cold shooting and turnovers hurt the Louisiana offense. The Cajuns managed just 29 percent shooting (18-of-62) while committing 19 turnovers and having 13 shots blocked.
Keke Veal came off the bench to be the only Cajun to reach double figures in scoring, finishing with 10 points, while Jasmin Mills set a career-high with 11 rebounds.
The first half was an offensive struggle for the Cajuns as UL started the game by making just five of its first 26 field goal attempts (19.2 percent) before making five of their final six shots to close the half.
After Ashley Benjamin opened the scoring with a free throw at 19:26, the Owls would run off five straight points to take the lead for good, eventually leading 29-14 with 3:49 left.
The offense came to life as the opening half expired, as Veal came off the bench to sandwich three baskets around a hoop by Adrienne Prejean to pull UL to within 31-23 at the break.
After Veal scored in the lane as part of an 8-2 spurt to bring the Cajuns back from a 15-point second half deficit to trail 40-31 with 15:04 left, the Owls sharp-shooters took over.
Latavia Dempsey (5-for-5) and Kimberly Smith (3-for-5), who combined to go eight-for-10 from beyond the arc in the game, would combine to make four treys as part of an FAU outburst that took control of the game, opening a 59-36 lead with 8:47 remaining in the game.

SERIES HISTORY (FIU leads 16-6, overall; FIU leads 7-2 in Miami)
>>> Two programs first met in FIU's inaugural season in the Sun Belt (1998-99). FIU won initial meeting, 81-60 at Earl K. Long Gym.
>>> Panthers came away victorious in the first nine meetings (streak ran through 2002-03 season). Cajuns first-ever win in series took place Jan. 24, 2004 at Earl K. Long Gym (W, 58-48) under the direction of J. Kelley Hall.
>>> All of Louisiana's wins came in J. Kelley Hall Era. The Cajuns went 6-3 with Hall at the helm.
>>> Cajuns and Panthers have met four times in the Sun Belt Tournament, the most recent occurrence coming last season in Hot Springs (FIU won 74-53 on 3/3/12 in Hot Springs, Ark.).
>>> All 16 FIU victories have been by double figures (average margin of victory is 24.8 points).
>>> FIU carries a six game win streak into Saturday's contest (last UL win came 3/3/07 W, 67-49).

NOTING FIU
>>> In 79 career contests, junior Jerica Coley has scored 1,608 career points, a mark which ranks ?fth all-time at FIU. Coley currently leads the Sun Belt Conference and ranks third in the
country in scoring (24.1 ppg).
>>> Head Coach Cindy Russo's 678 career victories rank ninth among active Division I coaches and 16th on the all-time winningest coaches list.
>>> Following a 35-point performance vs. Georgia Tech (1/2/13), Jerica Coley has now scored in double-?gures in 12 of 13 contests this season and in 69 of 79 career games.
>>> FIU leads the SBC in rebounding margin (+8.8), a mark which ranks 30th in the country. Marita Davydova ranks third in the SBC in rebounding (8.8 rpg).
>>> When FIU defeated Middle Tennessee (12/20/12) in Murfreesboro, Tenn., the Panthers snapped the Blue Raiders'
home win streak of 14 games.

LAST SEASON VS. FIU
>>> FIU posted two victories, claiming the regular season meeting 78-48 (1/14/12 at Cajundome) and taking a 74-53 win in the Sun Belt Tournament (3/3/12 in Hot Springs, Ark).
>>> The Cajuns shot 18 percent in the first half and FIU opened a 35-12 lead at intermission on Jan. 14 at the Cajundome. Josie West led UL with a career-high 15 points. Jerica Coley (22 points) and Fanni Hutlassa (21 points) paced the Panthers.
>>> In the SBC Tournament meeting, the Panthers broke free from a 9-8 lead behind the trio of Jerica Coley, Finda Mansare and Sasha Melnikova which combined for 20 of the team's final 25 points in the opening stanza. FIU led 34-16 at halftime. A Krystal Motley basket at 16:09 cut UL's deficit to 39-28, but a turnover and three missed shots later saw the Cajuns deficit back where it was at halftime (18 points) by the 13:25 mark.
>>> The SBC Tournament meeting marked the final game of the Errol Rogers era.

A RARE OCCURRENCE
>>> FAU managed to collect more steals (13-11) than Louisiana on Wednesday. It was just the second time this year the opposition had more steals.

PROTECTING THE ROCK
>>> Louisiana has surrendered just 7.5 steals per game, allowing double figures just four times through 14 games.

ALREADY PROVING THEM WRONG
>>> The preseason pollsters selected Louisiana last in the Sun Belt West. Only four games into the 2012-13 league schedule, the Cajuns registered a victory over SBC West favorite and defending league champion UALR on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.

MISS CLUTCH
>>> Brandi Schambough's last-second triple to pull out the win at Tulane on Dec. 19 brought back memories of a similar finish back on Feb. 20 vs. Nebraska-Omaha.
>>> In the team's 2011-12 non-conference finale, Schambough buried a trey with eight ticks left to pull UL out of a 60-59 deficit and to a win that halted a 17-game losing skid.

SHE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE AGAIN
>>> It was only fitting that Brandi Schambough hit the winning shot in the second overtime with UALR, given the Nebraska-Omaha and Tulane heroics.
>>> Schamough's trey with 27 seconds left gave UL a 56-54 lead in a win that ended a 10-game losing streak to the rising SBC West power UALR.

NO HEIGHT, NO PROBLEM
>>> Despite having only one player listed above 6-foot on the roster, the Cajuns have an uncanny ability to rebound the basketball. UL has held its ground with the opposition to the tune of a 39.6-39.6 season average through 14 games.
>>> UL rebounds on both ends (258 offensive rebounds and 297 defensive rebounds).

SHE HAS THE TOUCH
>>> Freshman Sylvana Okde continues to impress with her abilities from three-point range, continuously hitting treys from 22-23 feet away and in clutch moments.
>>> Okde converted a season-high seven makes from beyond the arc, including one as time expired, to send the Tulane contest into overtime.
>>> The Houston native, whose parents hail from Lebanon, is shooting a sparking 42.9 percent from three-point range (36-of-84).

DOUBLE THE TROUBLE
>>> The freshman duo of Keke Veal and Kia Wilridge is the leading force behind the Ragin' Cajuns forcing the opposition into an average of 22.6 turnovers per game.
>>> Wilridge tops the squad with 40 steals, while Veal is a close second with 33 steals.

TURNING UP THE “D”
>>> Thus far this season, the Cajuns defense has forced the opposing teams into 22.6 turnovers per game while UL averages 18.6, giving the squad a +4.0 turnover margin.
>>> 313 of the 849 points scored have been points off turnovers (37 percent).

SHOW STOPPER
>>> Louisiana's 65-64 overtime win at Tulane brought an end to the Green Wave's 15-game win streak over Louisiana schools. Ten (10) days earlier, Tulane had defeated SEC-foe LSU 66-64 in Baton Rouge.

HOMEGROWN TALENT
>>> Cajuns roster features eight players who hail from the state of Louisiana.
>>> To go a step further, six athletes prepped in the greater Lafayette area (Brandi Schambough – St. Thomas More; Brooklyn Arceneaux – St. Thomas More; Robbie Brown – St. Thomas More; Kia Wilridge – St. Thomas More; Adrienne Prejean – Lafayette HS; Keke Veal – St. Thomas More).

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD
>>> For the first time since the 2010-11 academic year, sophomores Brooklyn Arceneaux and Robbie Brown and freshmen Kia Wilridge and Keke Veal are teammates.
>>> The quartet powered local St. Thomas More High to a state championship in 2011.
>>> Last season, Wilridge and Veal carried on the championship caliber effort, winning another state title in 2012.

RETURNING HOME
>>> Three of the Cajuns four coaches are alums of the University of Louisiana, head coach Garry Brodhead (1980), Sallie Guillory (2005), and Deacon Jones (1999).
>>> For Brodhead, it represents a return to the city where many of his coaching successes occurred, including his stint at Teurlings Catholic High School where he posted a 297-78 record from 1998-2007.

REUNITED, PART 2
>>> Not only were teammates reunited this season, but members of the coaching staff were as well – Jennifer Sullivan rejoining Garry Brodhead and Sallie Guillory.
>>> The trio were assistant coaches at McNeese State during the 2008-09 campaign. Brodhead and Guillory remained at McNeese through 2011-12, while Sullivan spent 2009-10 through 2011-12 at Arkansas State.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD
>>> Garry Brodhead became the 12th head coach in UL program history on April 2, 2012. The 1980 UL graduate is a 16-year veteran of women's basketball coaching.
>>> Brodhead replaced Errol Rogers who compiled a 38-113 record over five seasons (2007-08 through 2011-12).

THE LONE RANGER
>>> Reserve guard Brandi Schambough is the lone senior on Garry Brodhead's inaugural squad in Cajun Country.
>>> She's also the most experienced in terms of years in a collegiate uniform having played each of the previous three seasons.

DOUBLE THE PLEASURE FOR RAGIN' CAJUNS FANS
>>> There will be five home doubleheaders in the Cajundome this year featuring the Ragin' Cajuns men's and women's basketball teams.
>>> The first doubleheader comes on Dec. 29 when Louisiana hosts UALR. Arkansas State is the guest on Jan. 12 and UL plays UL-Monroe (Feb. 10), Florida Atlantic (Feb. 16) and Western Kentucky (Feb. 23) on successive weekends in February.

UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
>>> Louisiana returns home for four of the next six games in Lafayette to wrap up the month of January.
>>> The Ragin' Cajuns start the stretch with games against South Alabama (Jan. 9 at Earl K. Long Gym) and Arkansas State (Jan. 12 at Cajundome) next week.
>>> UL and USA are set to tip at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 9 at Earl K. Long Gym – the first game at E.K. Long since Dec. 17 vs. UC Riverside. The meeting with ASU on Saturday, Jan. 12 is the first game of a doubleheader with the Cajuns and Red Wolves' men's teams at the Cajundome and is set to begin at 5 p.m.
>>> Louisiana is 5-2 at home in Garry Brodhead's inaugural campaign (4-2 EKL/1-0 Cajundome).

-- Ragin' Cajuns --

Women's Hoops Closes Out Florida Trip on Saturday in Miami

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