University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Cajuns Break Free From Dillard In Second Half
12/27/2024 8:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Offense and defense hit its peak in third quarter to lead Louisiana to exhibition triumph
LAFAYETTE – After trading scoring jabs in the first half the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Basketball team threw a defensive haymaker in the third quarter to separate from Dillard and claim a 63-43 exhibition victory at the Cajundome on Friday, December 27.
The Ragin' Cajuns made five consecutive field goal attempts early in the first quarter for a 10-0 run that opened a 14-5 lead by the 4:42 mark. The Bleu Devils countered with five straight successful attempts of their own, which spilt over into the first minute of second quarter, to spark a 16-0 run that gave the visitors a 20-14 edge.
After withstanding the Dillard run, Louisiana found its way back to the lead when an Erica Lafayette triple at 7:33 and Ashlyn Jones stepback jumper at 6:55 on back-to-back possessions reclaimed the lead at 21-20 and the responding run wouldn't stop until the Cajuns were ahead 30-20.
UL's defense threw up the proverbial stop sign in the third quarter, forcing Dillard into 14 consecutive missed field goals for eight-plus minutes during a quarter-ending 18-2 run that extended the lead to 50-29.
Jasmine Matthews, who scored a game-high 18 points, scored half of Louisiana's points during the knockout blow. In the five-minute mark of third, she scored a three-point play and grabbed two offensive rebounds on the next possession which led to her converting a second chance bucket – the efforts increasing the lead to 41-27 by the 5:02 mark.
Matthews punctuated her stout third quarter production with a pair of baskets inside of two minutes that pushed the advantage to 48-29.
Joining Matthews in double figures was Jones who scored six of her 12 points during the turnaround run in the second quarter and Lafayette who netted 10 points that included a key three-point play on a fastbreak in the third quarter that made it 44-29 and began the pull away.
Lafayette grabbed five rebounds in the fourth quarter to increase her total to 10 and complete her second double-double in exhibition play (20 pts, 11 reb vs. Centenary).
Louisiana made 12 more field goals than Dillard, converting 27-of-67 attempts while holding the visitors to 15-of-57 shooting (26 percent). The Ragin' Cajuns held a commanding plus-19 margin in rebounding (52-33) with all seven players that played grabbing at least five rebounds.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns (4-5) travel to Statesboro, Georgia for the start of Sun Belt Conference play on Sunday, December 29 against Georgia Southern (7-5) in the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center.
Tip-off time is set for 12:00 p.m. (CST). It's the first-ever SBC game played in the Eagles' newly constructed home facility.
Live coverage is available on ESPN+, the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network (The Goat 103.3 FM/1420 AM) and CajunStats.com.
Following the game, Louisiana returns to the Cajundome for Sun Belt Conference matchups with James Madison (Jan. 2) and Georgia State (Jan. 4).
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 made five consecutive field goal attempts early in the first quarter for a 10-0 run that opened a 14-5 lead by the 4:42 mark. The Bleu Devils countered with five straight successful attempts of their own, which spilt over into the first minute of second quarter, to spark a 16-0 run that gave the visitors a 20-14 edge.
After withstanding the Dillard run, Louisiana found its way back to the lead when an Erica Lafayette triple at 7:33 and Ashlyn Jones stepback jumper at 6:55 on back-to-back possessions reclaimed the lead at 21-20 and the responding run wouldn't stop until the Cajuns were ahead 30-20.
UL's defense threw up the proverbial stop sign in the third quarter, forcing Dillard into 14 consecutive missed field goals for eight-plus minutes during a quarter-ending 18-2 run that extended the lead to 50-29.
Jasmine Matthews, who scored a game-high 18 points, scored half of Louisiana's points during the knockout blow. In the five-minute mark of third, she scored a three-point play and grabbed two offensive rebounds on the next possession which led to her converting a second chance bucket – the efforts increasing the lead to 41-27 by the 5:02 mark.
Matthews punctuated her stout third quarter production with a pair of baskets inside of two minutes that pushed the advantage to 48-29.
Joining Matthews in double figures was Jones who scored six of her 12 points during the turnaround run in the second quarter and Lafayette who netted 10 points that included a key three-point play on a fastbreak in the third quarter that made it 44-29 and began the pull away.
Lafayette grabbed five rebounds in the fourth quarter to increase her total to 10 and complete her second double-double in exhibition play (20 pts, 11 reb vs. Centenary).
Louisiana made 12 more field goals than Dillard, converting 27-of-67 attempts while holding the visitors to 15-of-57 shooting (26 percent). The Ragin' Cajuns held a commanding plus-19 margin in rebounding (52-33) with all seven players that played grabbing at least five rebounds.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns (4-5) travel to Statesboro, Georgia for the start of Sun Belt Conference play on Sunday, December 29 against Georgia Southern (7-5) in the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center.
Tip-off time is set for 12:00 p.m. (CST). It's the first-ever SBC game played in the Eagles' newly constructed home facility.
Live coverage is available on ESPN+, the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network (The Goat 103.3 FM/1420 AM) and CajunStats.com.
Following the game, Louisiana returns to the Cajundome for Sun Belt Conference matchups with James Madison (Jan. 2) and Georgia State (Jan. 4).
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
DU
LA
FG%
.263
.403
3FG%
.308
.231
FT%
.455
.750
RB
33
52
TO
16
14
STL
7
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Players Mentioned
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