Cajuns Rally To Knock Off First Place Arkansas State, 77-76

LAFAYETTE – Brooklyn Arceneaux scored on a three-point play with 5.1 seconds left and Arkansas State's Jessica Flannery missed an opportunity to force overtime with 0.1 seconds left when she missed the second of two free throws as Louisiana upset Sun Belt leader Arkansas State, 77-76, on Saturday in the Cajundome.

The victory snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Ragin' Cajuns, improving them to 11-13 overall and 4-9 in Sun Belt play. Louisiana moved to within percentage points behind eight-placed Troy, which it will play at home next Wednesday, for the final spot in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament bracket.

Arkansas State slips to 16-9 overall and 10-3 in league play, one game ahead of second-place Texas State (8-3).

"Arkansas State did everything they were supposed to do to win the game, but they couldn't overcome our heart and our effort," Louisiana head coach Garry Brodhead said. "They out-rebounded us, had less turnovers and had 30 free throws to our 19, but in the end, it was our effort that came through.

The game was a fight for 40 minutes, featuring six ties and 18 lead changes, 16 coming in the second half.

Arkansas State took a 73-69 with 59 seconds left on a pair of free throws by Jalen O'Bannen. Jalyn Gordon scored on a short jumper from the left side and was fouled, making the free throw to cut the deficit to 73-72 with 42 seconds left.

Gabby Alexander, who scored a career-high 22 points in the contest, intercepted a Red Wolves pass at mid-court and drove in for the basket to give Louisiana a 74-73 lead with 28.6 seconds left.

The lead was short-lived as Arkansas State worked the ball down low to Jane Morrill, who pivoted and scored a layup to give the Red Wolves a 75-74 lead with 16.5 seconds left.

After a series of timeouts, the Cajuns worked the ball to Arceneaux, who took several dribbles before being fouled by O'Bannon as she was going up, getting the ball to fall to give the Ragin' Cajuns the lead. Arceneaux then knocked down the free throw to put Louisiana ahead, 77-75 with 5.1 seconds left.

Inbounding from the baseline, Arkansas State got the ball into Jamie Ruffins' hands and she drove the right sideline, being fouled by Robbie Brown with 0.1 seconds left. An injured Ruffins was replaced by Flannery who made the first free throw before her second attempt bounced off the back iron with Sylvana Okde grabbing the rebound to end the game.

Alexander led the Cajuns with 22 points while Arceneaux (18 points) and Gordon (14) each finished in double figures. Aundrea Gamble led the Red Wolves with 24 points while Morrill added 16 and O'Bannon had 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The difference in the game for Louisiana was its shooting. The Cajuns shot a season-high .526 from the field (30-for-57), including a blistering .630 in the second half (17-for-27), and made 15-of-19 free throws (.789).

Arkansas State shot .422 from the field (27-for-64), including 15-for-33 (.455) in the second half and were 21-for-30 from the stripe (.700).

"We shot the ball real well tonight, but part of it is because we moved the ball offensively and we even reversed it tonight, which is usually something that is difficult for us.

Neither team played well from the perimeter, as Louisiana was 2-for-8 from three-point range while A-State was 1-for-6," Brodhead said.

This was the second win for the Cajuns since All-Sun Belt guard Keke Veal, who was leading the team with an 11.9 scoring average, was sidelined with a leg injury. It also snapped an eight-game skid that dated back to Jan. 18.

"I wasn't even thinking about the losing streak. It wasn't in our mind. Ever since I got my dream job, all I could think about is are we moving forward, are we getting better?" Brodhead added.

The Cajuns opened the game quickly, building a 14-6 lead with 13:39 left. Alexander scored six of Louisiana's points during the run.

The Red Wolves countered with an 16-2 burst that put them ahead, 22-16 with 7:56 to play. Most of the points during the run came inside, taking advantage of A-State's height advantage over the Cajuns.

The deficit would grow to as many as nine, 36-27 with 1:55 to play with Morrill scored inside, but Louisiana five of the final six points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Gordon, to trail 37-32 at the intermission.

Trailing 41-36 at the 18:10 mark, the Cajuns ran off six straight points, the final two by Alexander at the 17:18 mark to take a 42-41 lead.

The lead would change hands several times over the next five minutes. With the Cajuns trailing, 49-48 (12:22), Louisiana got baskets from Gordon, Brown and Wilridge to open up a 54-49 advantage with 11:02 left.

The Red Wolves came right back however as Gamble scored seven straight points to turn the game back to Arkansas State, 56-54, with 8:34 left.

The Cajuns remain at home to close out this three-game homestand when Louisiana hosts Troy on Wednesday (Feb. 19) beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Cajundome. A victory would give Louisiana the inside track on the final spot in the Sun Belt Championship field.

Cajuns Rally To Knock Off First Place Arkansas State, 77-76

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Team Stats

Gabby Alexander

Brooklyn Arceneaux

Jaylyn Gordon

Robbie Brown

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