University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, January 11
Lafayette
2:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
8-6,4-1Sun Belt
77
vs
68
Southern Miss
5-11,1-4Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
Southern Miss.
17
11
19
21
68
Louisiana
19
29
13
16
77
Big First Half Carries Louisiana to its Third Consecutive Win
1/11/2025 6:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Cajuns shoot over 90 percent in second quarter to gain distance from Southern Miss
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Basketball team used a nearly flawless shooting performance in the second quarter to secure a victory over Southern Miss, going on to claim a 77-68 decision in a Sun Belt Conference game on Saturday, January 11 at the Cajundome.
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Louisiana (8-6, 4-1 SBC) converted 93 percent of its shots in the second quarter, finishing 13-of-14 from the floor, to expand a 19-17 lead into a commanding 48-28 halftime edge.
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The Ragin' Cajuns breakaway occurred when leading 24-20 the squad knocked down 10 consecutive shot attempts prior to the halftime break in closing the opening stanza on a 24-8 run.
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The Golden Eagles (5-11, 1-4 SBC) would get no closer than eight points in the second half and the Cajuns had a quick answer to fend off the advances. Leading 50-42 in the third it was back-to-back Ashlyn Jones jumpers that stretched the lead back out and after USM sliced the lead to 71-63 inside of four minutes to play a steal from Nubia Benedith led to free throws which returned the lead to double digits until the final horn.
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UL extended its winning streak to a season-high tying three games and set a season-high points total for the second straight outing.
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The Ragin' Cajuns also achieved their first 4-1 SBC start since the 2020-21 regular season championship campaign and collected a second straight win over Southern Miss for the first time in the series history.
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The two sides opened the game with an offensive showcase combining for 12 field goal makes which included a combined five three-pointers. Uniyah Franklin's buzzer-beating baseline jumper provided the difference for Louisiana taking the lead.
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The Cajuns used two separate 9-0 runs before the four-minute mark of the second quarter to distance themselves from the Lady Eagles.
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Starting at 8:20 with Kamryn Jones' second-chance layup UL scored on four straight touches capped off by back-to-back Erica Lafayette baskets off a USM turnover that extended the lead to 33-20 by the 6:09 mark.
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Tamiah Robinson answered a Lady Eagles triple with one of her own at 5:26 and Benedith stole a pass for a layup at 5:12 to set the next decisive run in motion. After a USM timeout, Lafayette pumped in two more jumpers advancing the margin to 42-23 by the 4:22 mark.
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Lafayette and Kamryn Jones wound up as Louisiana's two leading scorers, generating 19 and 18 points, respectively. It was Lafayette's eighth straight game in double figures matching her SBC play average (19.0) while Jones registered her highest output as a Ragin' Cajun and a new career-high total.
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USM opened the second half with a 14-2 run before Ashlyn Jones' third-quarter sequence returned to Lady Eagles back out to arm's length. A triple from Lafayette and Kamryn Jones layup off turnover moved Louisiana back out comfortably at 61-45 with 50 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
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INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Lafayette (14) and Kamryn Jones (12) combined for 26 points in the first half alone. The duo went on to finish with seven field goals apiece, totaling 14 of UL's 27 makes, and accounted for nearly half (37) of the points total.
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Continuing a trend of strong starts to SBC contests, Louisiana recorded a sizzling 68 percent shooting in the first half (19-of-28). Both the 29 points in the second quarter and 48 total points in the opening half were season-best marks.
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The Ragin' Cajuns collected 29 points off of Lady Eagles' turnovers, collecting the bulk of those tallies (21) off of the 13 turnovers forced in the first half.
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UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana enters a stretch of four games solely against Arkansas State and Troy that wraps up the first half of Sun Belt Conference play.
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The first set of matchups occurs on the road from January 15-18 followed by the Red Wolves and Trojans return trips to the Cajundome from January 23-25.
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The ASU-Troy stretch begins on Wednesday, January 15 in Jonesboro, Arkansas when the Ragin' Cajuns and Red Wolves meet at 7:00 p.m. in First National Bank Arena. That will be followed by a trip to Troy, Alabama on Saturday, January 18 for a 3:30 p.m. tilt with the Troy Trojans.
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Live coverage is available on ESPN+, the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network (The Goat 103.3 FM/1420 AM and Varsity Sports app) and CajunStats.com.
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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.
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Louisiana (8-6, 4-1 SBC) converted 93 percent of its shots in the second quarter, finishing 13-of-14 from the floor, to expand a 19-17 lead into a commanding 48-28 halftime edge.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns breakaway occurred when leading 24-20 the squad knocked down 10 consecutive shot attempts prior to the halftime break in closing the opening stanza on a 24-8 run.
Â
The Golden Eagles (5-11, 1-4 SBC) would get no closer than eight points in the second half and the Cajuns had a quick answer to fend off the advances. Leading 50-42 in the third it was back-to-back Ashlyn Jones jumpers that stretched the lead back out and after USM sliced the lead to 71-63 inside of four minutes to play a steal from Nubia Benedith led to free throws which returned the lead to double digits until the final horn.
Â
UL extended its winning streak to a season-high tying three games and set a season-high points total for the second straight outing.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns also achieved their first 4-1 SBC start since the 2020-21 regular season championship campaign and collected a second straight win over Southern Miss for the first time in the series history.
Â
The two sides opened the game with an offensive showcase combining for 12 field goal makes which included a combined five three-pointers. Uniyah Franklin's buzzer-beating baseline jumper provided the difference for Louisiana taking the lead.
Â
The Cajuns used two separate 9-0 runs before the four-minute mark of the second quarter to distance themselves from the Lady Eagles.
Â
Starting at 8:20 with Kamryn Jones' second-chance layup UL scored on four straight touches capped off by back-to-back Erica Lafayette baskets off a USM turnover that extended the lead to 33-20 by the 6:09 mark.
Â
Tamiah Robinson answered a Lady Eagles triple with one of her own at 5:26 and Benedith stole a pass for a layup at 5:12 to set the next decisive run in motion. After a USM timeout, Lafayette pumped in two more jumpers advancing the margin to 42-23 by the 4:22 mark.
Â
Lafayette and Kamryn Jones wound up as Louisiana's two leading scorers, generating 19 and 18 points, respectively. It was Lafayette's eighth straight game in double figures matching her SBC play average (19.0) while Jones registered her highest output as a Ragin' Cajun and a new career-high total.
Â
USM opened the second half with a 14-2 run before Ashlyn Jones' third-quarter sequence returned to Lady Eagles back out to arm's length. A triple from Lafayette and Kamryn Jones layup off turnover moved Louisiana back out comfortably at 61-45 with 50 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Â
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Lafayette (14) and Kamryn Jones (12) combined for 26 points in the first half alone. The duo went on to finish with seven field goals apiece, totaling 14 of UL's 27 makes, and accounted for nearly half (37) of the points total.
Â
Continuing a trend of strong starts to SBC contests, Louisiana recorded a sizzling 68 percent shooting in the first half (19-of-28). Both the 29 points in the second quarter and 48 total points in the opening half were season-best marks.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns collected 29 points off of Lady Eagles' turnovers, collecting the bulk of those tallies (21) off of the 13 turnovers forced in the first half.
Â
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana enters a stretch of four games solely against Arkansas State and Troy that wraps up the first half of Sun Belt Conference play.
Â
The first set of matchups occurs on the road from January 15-18 followed by the Red Wolves and Trojans return trips to the Cajundome from January 23-25.
Â
The ASU-Troy stretch begins on Wednesday, January 15 in Jonesboro, Arkansas when the Ragin' Cajuns and Red Wolves meet at 7:00 p.m. in First National Bank Arena. That will be followed by a trip to Troy, Alabama on Saturday, January 18 for a 3:30 p.m. tilt with the Troy Trojans.
Â
Live coverage is available on ESPN+, the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network (The Goat 103.3 FM/1420 AM and Varsity Sports app) and CajunStats.com.
Â
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.
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- www.RaginCajuns.com -
Team Stats
USM
LA
FG%
.442
.500
3FG%
.450
.500
FT%
.929
.842
RB
30
27
TO
23
15
STL
2
9
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
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