University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Erica Lafayette to Join Ragin’ Cajuns and Return Home to Louisiana
5/16/2024 4:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Baton Rouge product to play final collegiate season with Louisiana Women’s Basketball
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Basketball team announced the addition of graduate transfer Erica Lafayette, a Baton Rouge product who's arriving from Rutgers, to join the roster for the 2024-25 season.
Lafayette, who prepped at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge and was one of the top recruits out of the state of Louisiana – ranked No. 2 by Blue Star Basketball, No. 3 by All-Star Girls Report and No. 4 by espnW Hoopgurlz – spent the previous four seasons competing in the Big Ten Conference at Rutgers.
She played 92 games for the Scarlet Knights with an expanded role the past two seasons, seeing playing time in 30-plus games in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
The final two seasons at Rutgers saw Lafayette produce back-to-back 100-plus point campaigns.
"Erica brings versatility at the guard spot for our program," head coach Garry Brodhead said. "Her ability to penetrate and score, as well as shoot the three-pointer, makes her a get fit for our offense. Her athleticism will also contribute to our defense, especially with our full court press."
As a junior in 2022-23, Lafayette blossomed as a collegiate player scoring 182 points (5.7/game), collecting 79 rebounds (2.5/game), converting 66 field goals and dishing out 41 assists. She reached double digit scoring in eight outings and led the Scarlet Knights in helpers in three contests.
A breakout season from the three-point line followed in 2023-24 as Lafayette ranked second on the team with a personal-best 23 three-point makes. She hit multiple shots from deep in seven outings capped off by four triples in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament against Minnesota.
While at Rutgers, Lafayette was a two-time Columbia University Lecture Guess Speaker, Big 10 Symposium Guest Speaker, PNC Bank Award Winner for the top performer in the 2022-2023academic year and was a Big Ten Academic Honor student.
Lafayette, a highly versatile combo guard who is just as effective making plays for her teammates as creating offense for herself, was a three-star prospect out of McKinley HS. She was coached by former WNBA player Temeka Johnson.
She was a Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5 All-State Honorable Mention selection following her junior season. Lafayette averaged near 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game – leading her squad to a runner-up finish in District 5-5A.
The signing of Lafayette marks the second newcomer announced for the 2024-25 season by head coach Garry Brodhead and his staff. She joins Senegal native Charlotte Carvalho out of Grayson College in signing with Louisiana.
The Ragin' Cajuns are coming off their fifth consecutive winning season highlighted by capturing the 200th win of the Brodhead era and making a run to the semifinals of the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Championship tournament.
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.
Lafayette, who prepped at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge and was one of the top recruits out of the state of Louisiana – ranked No. 2 by Blue Star Basketball, No. 3 by All-Star Girls Report and No. 4 by espnW Hoopgurlz – spent the previous four seasons competing in the Big Ten Conference at Rutgers.
She played 92 games for the Scarlet Knights with an expanded role the past two seasons, seeing playing time in 30-plus games in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
The final two seasons at Rutgers saw Lafayette produce back-to-back 100-plus point campaigns.
"Erica brings versatility at the guard spot for our program," head coach Garry Brodhead said. "Her ability to penetrate and score, as well as shoot the three-pointer, makes her a get fit for our offense. Her athleticism will also contribute to our defense, especially with our full court press."
As a junior in 2022-23, Lafayette blossomed as a collegiate player scoring 182 points (5.7/game), collecting 79 rebounds (2.5/game), converting 66 field goals and dishing out 41 assists. She reached double digit scoring in eight outings and led the Scarlet Knights in helpers in three contests.
A breakout season from the three-point line followed in 2023-24 as Lafayette ranked second on the team with a personal-best 23 three-point makes. She hit multiple shots from deep in seven outings capped off by four triples in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament against Minnesota.
While at Rutgers, Lafayette was a two-time Columbia University Lecture Guess Speaker, Big 10 Symposium Guest Speaker, PNC Bank Award Winner for the top performer in the 2022-2023academic year and was a Big Ten Academic Honor student.
Lafayette, a highly versatile combo guard who is just as effective making plays for her teammates as creating offense for herself, was a three-star prospect out of McKinley HS. She was coached by former WNBA player Temeka Johnson.
She was a Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5 All-State Honorable Mention selection following her junior season. Lafayette averaged near 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game – leading her squad to a runner-up finish in District 5-5A.
The signing of Lafayette marks the second newcomer announced for the 2024-25 season by head coach Garry Brodhead and his staff. She joins Senegal native Charlotte Carvalho out of Grayson College in signing with Louisiana.
The Ragin' Cajuns are coming off their fifth consecutive winning season highlighted by capturing the 200th win of the Brodhead era and making a run to the semifinals of the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Championship tournament.
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 -
Garry Brodhead, Skylah Travis, and Nubia Benedith Media Availability (Feb 26, 2025)
Thursday, February 27
Garry Brodhead Media Availability (Feb 24, 2025)
Monday, February 24
Garry Brodhead Media Availability (Feb 17, 2025)
Monday, February 17
Garry Brodhead, Erica Lafayette, and Skylah Travis Media Availability (Feb 15, 2025)
Saturday, February 15
