Exhibition Break for Cajuns Begins Tuesday Night Against Xavier

LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Basketball team plays the first of two upcoming exhibition games during its current two-week break from regular season action, hosting Xavier (La.) on Tuesday, November 21 at the Cajundome.

The exhibition contest with the Gold Nuggets is scheduled to tip off at 6:00 p.m.

Admission to the UL-Xavier matchup – and for all UL Women's Basketball games throughout the entire season – is free and open to the public.

No television or radio coverage is available. Live stats of the Ragin' Cajuns-Gold Nuggets meeting will be available at CajunStats.com.

UL (2-2) entered the break from regular season play after an exhilarating 69-63 overtime win over Nicholls on Saturday, November 18 that saw the Cajuns rally from 13 points down with six minutes remaining in regulation.

The Cajuns are also scheduled to play an exhibition game with Loyola (La.) on Monday, November 27 before resuming the 2023-24 season on Saturday, December 2 in New Orleans with a 2:00 p.m. game against the Privateers at Lakefront Arena.

"The timing of these exhibitions is different than normal, but we're excited to have an opportunity to experiment with our lineup more and give players additional opportunities to play," Louisiana Women's Basketball head coach Garry Brodhead said. "This will be a chance for some to earn valuable experience and for us as coaches to see how they respond."

The win over Nicholls allowed UL to halt a two-game skid in advance of the hiatus from countable contests. Brandi Williams connected on five three-pointers including a first half buzzer beater and the four-point play which set up the overtime session. Tamera Johnson turned in a 17-point, 17-rebound double-double while Destiny Rice joined the duo in notching 17 points against the Colonels.

Johnson, who has scored double figures all four games and is averaging 15.3 points per game, and Williams, already in double figures with 10 triples and is averaging 12.8 points per game, have been have been the early season standouts on the offensive side for the Ragin' Cajuns.

Xavier defeated NAIA No. 15 Loyola (La.) 59-48 in its last contest – the third straight game limiting the opposition below 50 points to start the season. The Gold Nuggets, picked third in the 12-team Red River Athletic Conference, are led in scoring by Taylor Dewitt (11.7 ppg) and in rebounding by Patricia Sosa Lora (7.3 rpg).

GAME INFORMATION
LOUISIANA (2-2) vs. XAVIER, LA (3-0)
Date / Time: Tuesday, November 21, 2023 / 6:00 p.m.
Site: Lafayette, La.
Arena: Cajundome (12,362)

LIVE STATS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: CajunStats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsWBB | #GeauxCajuns

QUICK HITS
• Tamera Johnson has scored at least 15 points all three games at the Cajundome this season, generating a season-high 17 on Saturday vs. Nicholls.
• Tamera Johnson grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds in the overtime win over Nicholls. She hauled in seven rebounds alone in the fourth quarter as the Cajuns held the Colonels to only one field goal the final 7:46 of the period.
• Brandi Williams opened the current homestand with back-to-back, 17-point efforts (Kent State, Nicholls).
• Brandi Williams tied her career-high with five (5) three-point makes vs. Nicholls. The 10 triples she's recorded ranks second in the Sun Belt and Top 75 nationally.
• Utah State transfer Tamiah Robinson (11) and Destiny Rice (7) have combined for half of the Cajuns assists total (18 of 36).
• Early on the Cajuns are meeting their goal of improved free throw shooting, connecting on 70 percent (63-of-90). UL is coming off back-to-back 70-plus percent efforts against Kent State (21-of-26) and Nicholls (18-of-25) in which the squad shot a combined 39-of-51 (77 percent).
• With December approaching, the Cajuns are hopeful to soon regain the services of key players Lanay Wheaton, Mariah Stewart and Aasia Sam who combined have missed all but one game (Stewart played season opener).

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 -

Exhibition Break for Cajuns Begins Tuesday Night Against Xavier

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Players Mentioned

Tamera Johnson

Destiny Rice

Tamiah Robinson

Aasia Sam

Mariah Stewart

Lanay Wheaton

Brandi Williams

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