University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Thursday, December 29
Lafayette
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
7-6,1-0Sun Belt
54
vs
41
Georgia State
6-8,0-1Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
Georgia St.
12
11
9
9
41
Louisiana
14
11
18
11
54
Louisiana Outworks Georgia State in Sun Belt-Opening Triumph
12/29/2022 11:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Smooth play offensively and defensively helped Ragin’ Cajuns control the pace
LAFAYETTE – Sharing the basketball and controlling play in the post led the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Basketball team to a 54-41 win over Georgia State in the Sun Belt Conference opener on Thursday, December 29 at the Cajundome.
The Ragin' Cajuns (7-6, 1-0 SBC) collected an assist on 63 percent of their made baskets (12 out of 19) led by a season-high six dimes from Destiny Rice.
Mariah Stewart stole the spotlight amongst the post players as she poured in a season-high 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Adding in 10 points from Tamera Johnson, Louisiana was the more effective squad in the frontcourt.
Louisiana's interior defense was able to limit the touches for GSU's leading scorer Deasia Merrill as she was only able to get off eight shot attempts and make only four field goals. Merrill, the leading post player for the Panthers (6-8, 0-1 SBC), picked up the vast majority of her 12 points in the second half and was limited to just three points in the fourth quarter.
The Ragin' Cajuns defense held GSU to 14 made baskets (only second game with less than 20 makes), a single three-point field goal make, a season-low nine three-point attempts and forced the visitors into 15 turnovers. In the decisive second half, Louisiana limited Georgia State, a team that entered the game shooting 44 percent, to 4-of-19 shooting (1-of-7 on threes).
In addition to sharing the basketball effectively, Louisiana controlled its miscues by committing only 10 turnovers. Paced by four three-pointers from Lanay Wheaton in the second half, the Ragin' Cajuns pulled away from the Panthers.
Stewart was the Ragin' Cajuns offensive spark in the first half, erasing GSU's early lead with a pair of paint baskets during the three-minute mark of the first quarter that opened an 11-8 lead. She scored a team-high six points in the second quarter – upping her first half total to 10 points – including the go-ahead-for-good bucket at the 1:28 mark that gave UL its 25-23 halftime advantage.
The lead at the break was set up by Johnson who answered a GSU three-point play with one of her own at the 2:44 mark to return the lead to Louisiana at 23-21.
Wheaton, who finished with a game-high 16 points, was the chief catalyst in the second half. She knocked down a triple at the 7:17 mark of the third quarter for a 33-27 edge and GSU was unable to return to a one-possession game the rest of the way.
In the final 32 seconds of the quarter, Wheaton solidified the advantage with a pair of three-point makes that stretched the Ragin' Cajuns lead to 43-32 heading to the final stanza.
A 6-0 run by GSU sliced the lead to five points just inside of eight minutes remaining in the game, but Sherry Porter ended the run with a second-chance basket at 7:05. Wheaton then made the Panthers pay for a pair of turnovers when her fourth and final triple of the evening pushed the lead to 48-38 with 6:00 left to play.
Louisiana improved to 12-4 all-time vs. Georgia State and upped the series lead on its home court to 6-2. The Ragin' Cajuns held the Panthers to less than 50 points for the second straight meeting at the Cajundome (W, 64-48 on Feb. 24, 2022).
It was the Ragin' Cajuns' first Sun Belt-opening win since the 2019-20 season, which came against Georgia State in Atlanta.
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 (5-7, 0-1 SBC) in a 1:00 p.m. contest at the Cajundome.
The Ragin' Cajuns will attempt to secure their first 2-0 start in SBC play since the 2015-16 season.
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 (7-6, 1-0 SBC) collected an assist on 63 percent of their made baskets (12 out of 19) led by a season-high six dimes from Destiny Rice.
Mariah Stewart stole the spotlight amongst the post players as she poured in a season-high 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Adding in 10 points from Tamera Johnson, Louisiana was the more effective squad in the frontcourt.
Louisiana's interior defense was able to limit the touches for GSU's leading scorer Deasia Merrill as she was only able to get off eight shot attempts and make only four field goals. Merrill, the leading post player for the Panthers (6-8, 0-1 SBC), picked up the vast majority of her 12 points in the second half and was limited to just three points in the fourth quarter.
The Ragin' Cajuns defense held GSU to 14 made baskets (only second game with less than 20 makes), a single three-point field goal make, a season-low nine three-point attempts and forced the visitors into 15 turnovers. In the decisive second half, Louisiana limited Georgia State, a team that entered the game shooting 44 percent, to 4-of-19 shooting (1-of-7 on threes).
In addition to sharing the basketball effectively, Louisiana controlled its miscues by committing only 10 turnovers. Paced by four three-pointers from Lanay Wheaton in the second half, the Ragin' Cajuns pulled away from the Panthers.
Stewart was the Ragin' Cajuns offensive spark in the first half, erasing GSU's early lead with a pair of paint baskets during the three-minute mark of the first quarter that opened an 11-8 lead. She scored a team-high six points in the second quarter – upping her first half total to 10 points – including the go-ahead-for-good bucket at the 1:28 mark that gave UL its 25-23 halftime advantage.
The lead at the break was set up by Johnson who answered a GSU three-point play with one of her own at the 2:44 mark to return the lead to Louisiana at 23-21.
Wheaton, who finished with a game-high 16 points, was the chief catalyst in the second half. She knocked down a triple at the 7:17 mark of the third quarter for a 33-27 edge and GSU was unable to return to a one-possession game the rest of the way.
In the final 32 seconds of the quarter, Wheaton solidified the advantage with a pair of three-point makes that stretched the Ragin' Cajuns lead to 43-32 heading to the final stanza.
A 6-0 run by GSU sliced the lead to five points just inside of eight minutes remaining in the game, but Sherry Porter ended the run with a second-chance basket at 7:05. Wheaton then made the Panthers pay for a pair of turnovers when her fourth and final triple of the evening pushed the lead to 48-38 with 6:00 left to play.
Louisiana improved to 12-4 all-time vs. Georgia State and upped the series lead on its home court to 6-2. The Ragin' Cajuns held the Panthers to less than 50 points for the second straight meeting at the Cajundome (W, 64-48 on Feb. 24, 2022).
It was the Ragin' Cajuns' first Sun Belt-opening win since the 2019-20 season, which came against Georgia State in Atlanta.
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 (5-7, 0-1 SBC) in a 1:00 p.m. contest at the Cajundome.
The Ragin' Cajuns will attempt to secure their first 2-0 start in SBC play since the 2015-16 season.
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 -
Team Stats
GSU
LA
FG%
.326
.345
3FG%
.111
.375
FT%
.632
.667
RB
34
36
TO
15
10
STL
4
10
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballC
/ Women's BasketballG
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