University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, January 25
Lafayette
2:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
9-9,5-4Sun Belt
70
vs
53
Troy
13-8,7-2Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
Troy
9
9
14
21
53
Louisiana
14
17
21
18
70
Louisiana Bounces Back With Crucial SBC Win Over Troy
1/25/2025 6:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Ragin’ Cajuns defense stymies Trojans shooting and ball-handling efforts
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Basketball team never trailed and held Troy to 31 percent shooting in capturing a 70-53 win on Saturday, January 25 at the Cajundome, halting a three-game losing streak and moving back above .500 in conference play.
The Ragin' Cajuns defense forced the Trojans into 26 turnovers which played a key role in limiting the visitors to 18 field goal makes and holding them 26 points below their season average. UL's efforts snapped Troy's win streak and stretch of 80-plus point games – both had stood at seven straight games.
Louisiana (9-9, 5-4 SBC) received a career-high points contribution from Ashlyn Jones who led with a game-high 20 points. Jones poured in 12 points during the second half as the Ragin' Cajuns maintained a double-digit lead throughout the final 20 minutes.
The key performance, though, came from reserve forward Skylah Travis who knocked down 4-of-6 field goal attempts for eight points and grabbed nine rebounds, both career-high totals. Travis teamed with Uniyah Franklin to disrupt the inside game for the Trojans (13-8, 7-2 SBC) as the Cajun defense yielded only eight points in the paint in building a 31-18 halftime edge.
Free throw shooting cemented the win for UL, the squad netting 10 makes in the fourth quarter to finish off a 19-of-23 showing at the line. Jones, who finished 8-of-9 from the charity stripe, was 5-of-6 in the fourth quarter with those all coming in a stretch where a 56-44 lead grew to 62-47.
Louisiana's defense held Troy to its lowest field goal percentage (30.5%) in five weeks (30.2% at JMU) and forced the Trojans into their most turnovers committed since December 1 (27 at Mississippi Valley).
It was a complete reversal from Thursday's performance from Arkansas State for UL, holding a 26-14 advantage in turnovers forced and doubling up Troy in points off of turnovers (24-12).
The Ragin' Cajuns pivotal win came with being faced with only eight players available. It marked the third win under the circumstance (Rice, Georgia Southern).
Jones and Travis together helped UL break free from an 8-all tie and secure the lead after the first quarter. Jones sank the tiebreaking free throws at the 1:51 mark, and then they each converted a second-chance bucket over the next two possessions to advance the lead to 14-9.
Nubia Benedith capped off her seven-point spurt in the first two minutes of the second quarter with a three-point play at 8:12 that moved the margin into double figures for good at 22-11.
Travis delivered her most key offensive contributions to preserve the double-figure edge, an offensive putback at 6:45 and an 18-foot jumper in response to a Troy three-pointer that upped the lead to 26-14. Minutes later, Erica Lafayette's triple at 1:39 expanded the margin to 31-16.
Louisiana withstood a push from Troy in the third quarter by shooting 9-of-18 to outscore the Trojans 21-14 and further grow the lead. Lafayette, who scored 12 of her 19 points in the second half, scored two baskets in the final 3:52 of the period as the lead reached 20 points for the first time at 49-29.
Troy opened the fourth quarter on a 9-0 run to lower the Cajuns' lead to 52-41 by the 7:43 mark, but Benedith settled things down with two free throw makes 12 seconds later.
The Trojans responded with a three-pointer from Briana Peguero at 7:23 to make it 54-44. Benedith countered with the biggest pass of the game, a home run ball off an inbounds pass in the backcourt to Lafayette for a wide-open layup.
The UL defense then continued a six-minute stretch of holding Troy without a field goal make during a 10-3 run keyed by Jones' five free throw makes and her second-chance layup at 2:15 which upped the lead to 64-47.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns embark on a road trip to the Carolinas for contests at App State and Coastal Carolina from January 30-February 1, starting a stretch of three straight games against the SBC's eastern half.
Louisiana will be in Boone, North Carolina on Thursday, January 30 to face App State in a 5:30 p.m. (CST) contest at the Holmes Convocation Center. The trip through the Carolinas wraps up on Saturday, February 1 in Conway, South Carolina where UL meets Coastal Carolina at 12:00 p.m. (CST) in the HTC Center.
It's the Cajuns' first App State-Coastal road trip since the 2019-20 season (Feb. 27-29, 2020).
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.
The stretch of SBC eastern foes closes when Louisiana returns to the Cajundome on February 5 to meet Marshall.
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 defense forced the Trojans into 26 turnovers which played a key role in limiting the visitors to 18 field goal makes and holding them 26 points below their season average. UL's efforts snapped Troy's win streak and stretch of 80-plus point games – both had stood at seven straight games.
Louisiana (9-9, 5-4 SBC) received a career-high points contribution from Ashlyn Jones who led with a game-high 20 points. Jones poured in 12 points during the second half as the Ragin' Cajuns maintained a double-digit lead throughout the final 20 minutes.
The key performance, though, came from reserve forward Skylah Travis who knocked down 4-of-6 field goal attempts for eight points and grabbed nine rebounds, both career-high totals. Travis teamed with Uniyah Franklin to disrupt the inside game for the Trojans (13-8, 7-2 SBC) as the Cajun defense yielded only eight points in the paint in building a 31-18 halftime edge.
Free throw shooting cemented the win for UL, the squad netting 10 makes in the fourth quarter to finish off a 19-of-23 showing at the line. Jones, who finished 8-of-9 from the charity stripe, was 5-of-6 in the fourth quarter with those all coming in a stretch where a 56-44 lead grew to 62-47.
Louisiana's defense held Troy to its lowest field goal percentage (30.5%) in five weeks (30.2% at JMU) and forced the Trojans into their most turnovers committed since December 1 (27 at Mississippi Valley).
It was a complete reversal from Thursday's performance from Arkansas State for UL, holding a 26-14 advantage in turnovers forced and doubling up Troy in points off of turnovers (24-12).
The Ragin' Cajuns pivotal win came with being faced with only eight players available. It marked the third win under the circumstance (Rice, Georgia Southern).
Jones and Travis together helped UL break free from an 8-all tie and secure the lead after the first quarter. Jones sank the tiebreaking free throws at the 1:51 mark, and then they each converted a second-chance bucket over the next two possessions to advance the lead to 14-9.
Nubia Benedith capped off her seven-point spurt in the first two minutes of the second quarter with a three-point play at 8:12 that moved the margin into double figures for good at 22-11.
Travis delivered her most key offensive contributions to preserve the double-figure edge, an offensive putback at 6:45 and an 18-foot jumper in response to a Troy three-pointer that upped the lead to 26-14. Minutes later, Erica Lafayette's triple at 1:39 expanded the margin to 31-16.
Louisiana withstood a push from Troy in the third quarter by shooting 9-of-18 to outscore the Trojans 21-14 and further grow the lead. Lafayette, who scored 12 of her 19 points in the second half, scored two baskets in the final 3:52 of the period as the lead reached 20 points for the first time at 49-29.
Troy opened the fourth quarter on a 9-0 run to lower the Cajuns' lead to 52-41 by the 7:43 mark, but Benedith settled things down with two free throw makes 12 seconds later.
The Trojans responded with a three-pointer from Briana Peguero at 7:23 to make it 54-44. Benedith countered with the biggest pass of the game, a home run ball off an inbounds pass in the backcourt to Lafayette for a wide-open layup.
The UL defense then continued a six-minute stretch of holding Troy without a field goal make during a 10-3 run keyed by Jones' five free throw makes and her second-chance layup at 2:15 which upped the lead to 64-47.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns embark on a road trip to the Carolinas for contests at App State and Coastal Carolina from January 30-February 1, starting a stretch of three straight games against the SBC's eastern half.
Louisiana will be in Boone, North Carolina on Thursday, January 30 to face App State in a 5:30 p.m. (CST) contest at the Holmes Convocation Center. The trip through the Carolinas wraps up on Saturday, February 1 in Conway, South Carolina where UL meets Coastal Carolina at 12:00 p.m. (CST) in the HTC Center.
It's the Cajuns' first App State-Coastal road trip since the 2019-20 season (Feb. 27-29, 2020).
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.
The stretch of SBC eastern foes closes when Louisiana returns to the Cajundome on February 5 to meet Marshall.
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
TROY
LA
FG%
.305
.381
3FG%
.208
.300
FT%
.706
.826
RB
48
35
TO
26
14
STL
7
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballGarry 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
