University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Thursday, December 29
Lafayette
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
vs
Georgia State
Louisiana Women’s Hoops Resumes Homestand, Starts Sun Belt Play on Thursday
12/28/2022 2:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Right out of the holiday break the Ragin’ Cajuns jump into conference battles
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Basketball team resumes its holidays homestand and begins Sun Belt Conference play on Thursday, December 29 hosting Georgia State at the Cajundome. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
The Ragin' Cajuns (6-6, 0-0 SBC) started their three-game homestand before the Christmas break with an 81-50 win over LSU-Alexandria on Monday, December 19. They'll close out the extended stay at home on New Year's Eve afternoon against Coastal Carolina.
Thursday's game is being dubbed "Cajuns Jam" with promotions, music and games using the Space Jam movie's theme. Admission to the game – and all home games throughout the entire season – is free of charge for all and open to the public.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Dan McDonald (pxp) and Byron Starks (analyst) providing the commentary. Fans in the Acadiana region can listen to call of the game by Steve Peloquin on 103.3 FM The Goat and 1420 AM and worldwide on the Varsity Network. Live stats will be provided by CajunStats.com.
Louisiana is beginning Sun Belt Conference play at home for the second straight season on New Year's Day weekend. Last season, the Ragin' Cajuns split a two-game set with UT Arlington and Texas State.
The Ragin' Cajuns are 3-7 in SBC openers in the Garry Brodhead era, though eight of those previous 10 openers occurred on the road. It's the second time that Georgia State (6-7, 0-0 SBC) provides the opposition in the conference opener, the last occurring in the 2019-20 season.
Both UL and GSU enter the contest seeking to continue building momentum after halting losing streaks. The Ragin' Cajuns win over LSUA ended a two-game skid, and was the first post-final exams win, while the Panthers snapped a three-game slide, and collected their first wins in December, with last week's sweep of North Alabama and LaGrange College in Atlanta.
Louisiana registered its season-high points total (81) in dispatching LSUA, forced a season-high 37 turnovers and continued its upward trend in shooting by knocking down 49 percent of its attempts (28-of-57). The squad continued its bounce back from the field following the Auburn loss, finishing above 40 percent for the second straight outing (shot 40 percent at Lamar).
Entering SBC play, Lanay Wheaton is coming off back-to-back, 20-plus point games including a season-high 25 vs. LSUA while Jaylyn James is quietly emerging as a scoring and rebounding threat having averaged 13 points and seven boards the last two games. James produced season-high point totals and led UL in rebounds against Lamar and LSUA.
Tamera Johnson paces the Ragin' Cajuns in scoring (10.3) and rebounding (7.0). The Lafayette native has already generated six double-digit scoring performances and three double-doubles. With the latest uptick in production, Wheaton (9.8) has raised her season scoring average nearly three full points.
The Ragin' Cajuns defense, which ranks Top 20 nationally forcing 22.4 turnovers per game, is led by Wheaton's 25 steals with Johnson right behind at 21 steals. Wheaton also paces the team with 18 assists, followed closely by Destiny Rice with 14 assists.
GSU, like Louisiana, had a busy pre-final exams slate with 10 games played by December 4. In the fifth season with head coach Gene Hill, the Panthers are led by Deasia Merrill who is shooting 58 percent (71-of-122) and leading the team in scoring (13.7) and rebounding (7.8). Boosted by Merrill's 14 blocks and 11 stuffs from Zay Dyer, GSU ranks Top 3 in the Sun Belt in blocked shots.
GAME INFORMATION
LOUISIANA (6-6, 0-0 SBC) vs. GEORGIA STATE (6-7, 0-0 SBC)
Date / Time: Thursday, December 29, 2022 / 6:00 p.m. (CST)
Site: Lafayette, La.
Arena: Cajundome (12,362)
RADIO/TV
Radio: The GOAT 103.3 FM / 1420 AM
Talent: Steve Peloquin (PxP)
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Dan McDonald (PxP); Byron Starks (analyst)
LIVE STATS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: CajunStats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsWBB | #GeauxCajuns
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Louisiana leads, 11-4
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 5-2
Streak: Louisiana +1
Last Meeting: UL 64-48, 2/24/22 (Lafayette, La.)
Noteworthy: Programs meeting for the 16th time overall … second straight season meeting at the Cajundome; eighth (8th) matchup all-time in the facility … series began in December 2008 at the UAB Blazer Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama … play resumed when Georgia State joined the Sun Belt Conference in the 2013-14 season … met annually ever since, except for the COVID-regulated season of 2020-21 … Ragin' Cajuns won nine consecutive meetings from February 2014 through January 2019 to claim control of the series lead … Louisiana posted season series sweeps of GSU from the 2014-15 through 2016-17 seasons … all but five of the previous 14 SBC matchups were decided by single digits … Louisiana matched its largest margin of victory at the Cajundome in the meeting last February.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana concludes its three-game holidays homestand and wraps up the opening weekend of Sun Belt Conference play on New Year's Eve facing Coastal Carolina in a 1:00 p.m. contest at the Cajundome.
As part of a New Year's Eve celebration, there will be a 2023 Happy New Year glasses eyewear giveaway at the entrance for fans in attendance.
The Ragin' Cajuns and Chanticleers are meeting at the Cajundome for the first time since February 2019 and for the first time overall since the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted following the 2020-21 season (last season's scheduled meeting in Conway was canceled by COVID).
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsWBB), Facebook (/RaginCajunsWBB) or Instagram (@RaginCajunsWBB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Women's Basketball.
Fans are also encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
The Ragin' Cajuns (6-6, 0-0 SBC) started their three-game homestand before the Christmas break with an 81-50 win over LSU-Alexandria on Monday, December 19. They'll close out the extended stay at home on New Year's Eve afternoon against Coastal Carolina.
Thursday's game is being dubbed "Cajuns Jam" with promotions, music and games using the Space Jam movie's theme. Admission to the game – and all home games throughout the entire season – is free of charge for all and open to the public.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Dan McDonald (pxp) and Byron Starks (analyst) providing the commentary. Fans in the Acadiana region can listen to call of the game by Steve Peloquin on 103.3 FM The Goat and 1420 AM and worldwide on the Varsity Network. Live stats will be provided by CajunStats.com.
Louisiana is beginning Sun Belt Conference play at home for the second straight season on New Year's Day weekend. Last season, the Ragin' Cajuns split a two-game set with UT Arlington and Texas State.
The Ragin' Cajuns are 3-7 in SBC openers in the Garry Brodhead era, though eight of those previous 10 openers occurred on the road. It's the second time that Georgia State (6-7, 0-0 SBC) provides the opposition in the conference opener, the last occurring in the 2019-20 season.
Both UL and GSU enter the contest seeking to continue building momentum after halting losing streaks. The Ragin' Cajuns win over LSUA ended a two-game skid, and was the first post-final exams win, while the Panthers snapped a three-game slide, and collected their first wins in December, with last week's sweep of North Alabama and LaGrange College in Atlanta.
Louisiana registered its season-high points total (81) in dispatching LSUA, forced a season-high 37 turnovers and continued its upward trend in shooting by knocking down 49 percent of its attempts (28-of-57). The squad continued its bounce back from the field following the Auburn loss, finishing above 40 percent for the second straight outing (shot 40 percent at Lamar).
Entering SBC play, Lanay Wheaton is coming off back-to-back, 20-plus point games including a season-high 25 vs. LSUA while Jaylyn James is quietly emerging as a scoring and rebounding threat having averaged 13 points and seven boards the last two games. James produced season-high point totals and led UL in rebounds against Lamar and LSUA.
Tamera Johnson paces the Ragin' Cajuns in scoring (10.3) and rebounding (7.0). The Lafayette native has already generated six double-digit scoring performances and three double-doubles. With the latest uptick in production, Wheaton (9.8) has raised her season scoring average nearly three full points.
The Ragin' Cajuns defense, which ranks Top 20 nationally forcing 22.4 turnovers per game, is led by Wheaton's 25 steals with Johnson right behind at 21 steals. Wheaton also paces the team with 18 assists, followed closely by Destiny Rice with 14 assists.
GSU, like Louisiana, had a busy pre-final exams slate with 10 games played by December 4. In the fifth season with head coach Gene Hill, the Panthers are led by Deasia Merrill who is shooting 58 percent (71-of-122) and leading the team in scoring (13.7) and rebounding (7.8). Boosted by Merrill's 14 blocks and 11 stuffs from Zay Dyer, GSU ranks Top 3 in the Sun Belt in blocked shots.
GAME INFORMATION
LOUISIANA (6-6, 0-0 SBC) vs. GEORGIA STATE (6-7, 0-0 SBC)
Date / Time: Thursday, December 29, 2022 / 6:00 p.m. (CST)
Site: Lafayette, La.
Arena: Cajundome (12,362)
RADIO/TV
Radio: The GOAT 103.3 FM / 1420 AM
Talent: Steve Peloquin (PxP)
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Dan McDonald (PxP); Byron Starks (analyst)
LIVE STATS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: CajunStats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsWBB | #GeauxCajuns
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Louisiana leads, 11-4
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 5-2
Streak: Louisiana +1
Last Meeting: UL 64-48, 2/24/22 (Lafayette, La.)
Noteworthy: Programs meeting for the 16th time overall … second straight season meeting at the Cajundome; eighth (8th) matchup all-time in the facility … series began in December 2008 at the UAB Blazer Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama … play resumed when Georgia State joined the Sun Belt Conference in the 2013-14 season … met annually ever since, except for the COVID-regulated season of 2020-21 … Ragin' Cajuns won nine consecutive meetings from February 2014 through January 2019 to claim control of the series lead … Louisiana posted season series sweeps of GSU from the 2014-15 through 2016-17 seasons … all but five of the previous 14 SBC matchups were decided by single digits … Louisiana matched its largest margin of victory at the Cajundome in the meeting last February.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
- On Your Mark, Get Set, Geaux!: Louisiana, a member since the 1991-92 season, is opening its 32nd season of competition within the Sun Belt Conference. The Ragin' Cajuns went 91-86 in league play through the first 10 years in the Garry Brodhead era.
- Extended Stay: The Georgia State outing continues Louisiana's current three-game homestand – the longest extended stretch of play at the Cajundome this season – which began back on December 19. Including practice and holiday break time, 18 days will have passed before the team's next road outing (Jan. 5 at Southern Miss).
- Post Presence: Both Louisiana and Georgia State are led in scoring and rebounding by the same individual. And, both make their presence felt in the frontcourt. Thursday's matchup pits two of the Sun Belt's top forwards in UL's Tamera Johnson (10.3 ppg; 7.0 rpg) and GSU's Deasia Merrill (13.7 ppg; 7.8 rpg).
- Arriving in Time: The 20-point performance at Lamar and the 25-point effort vs. LSUA was not only a season-high scoring effort both times for Lanay Wheaton, but it provided glimpses of the scoring punch she packed in the 2021-22 season. She appears to be shaking off the effects of a minor wrist injury that's persisted so far this season – just in time for Sun Belt Conference play.
- Turning 'Em Over: Eight times – and in each of the last four games – the Ragin' Cajuns have forced the opposition into 20-plus turnovers. Earlier this season, Louisiana turned over then-No. 3 Texas (Nov. 11) 25 times and most recently forced a season-high 37 turnovers from LSU-Alexandria (Dec. 19) in the last home game. Louisiana ranks Top 20 (at No. 16) nationally in turnovers forced per game (22.4).
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana concludes its three-game holidays homestand and wraps up the opening weekend of Sun Belt Conference play on New Year's Eve facing Coastal Carolina in a 1:00 p.m. contest at the Cajundome.
As part of a New Year's Eve celebration, there will be a 2023 Happy New Year glasses eyewear giveaway at the entrance for fans in attendance.
The Ragin' Cajuns and Chanticleers are meeting at the Cajundome for the first time since February 2019 and for the first time overall since the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted following the 2020-21 season (last season's scheduled meeting in Conway was canceled by COVID).
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsWBB), Facebook (/RaginCajunsWBB) or Instagram (@RaginCajunsWBB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Women's Basketball.
Fans are also encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
- www.RaginCajuns.com -
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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