University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, January 4
Lafayette
1:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
6-6,2-1Sun Belt
68
vs
50
Georgia State
7-7,1-2Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
Georgia St.
16
9
9
16
50
Louisiana
21
7
27
13
68
Cajuns Take Off Early and Never Look Back in Downing GSU
1/4/2025 5:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Louisiana produced two 20-plus point quarters in returning to win column in SBC play
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Basketball team made its first seven field goal attempts to take charge and later outscored Georgia State by 18 points in the third quarter to put the game out of reach en route to a 68-50 Sun Belt Conference triumph on Saturday, January 4 at the Cajundome.
Louisiana's 7-for-7 start to the game punctuated a 21-point first quarter which set the tone for the contest. Erica Lafayette, who scored a career-high tying 24 points, connected on three triples during the torrid start, the latter expanding the early edge to 17-8.
Both sides settled in defensively in the second quarter with just five field goal makes combined. Lafayette landed a timely triple at 2:13 after the Panthers closed the gap to 25-23.
Louisiana (6-6, 2-1 SBC) regained its offensive rhythm and capitalized off of miscues by Georgia State (7-7, 1-2 SBC) during an 8-0 run to start the second half. The initial knockout punch was capped off by Kamryn Jones converting a three-point play at 7:44 following a 10-second violation and Tamiah Robinson hitting a jumper at 7:24 following a lostball turnover, stretching the advantage to 36-25.
GSU found a pair of three-point makes over the next two minutes lowering the deficit to 39-31 at 5:23, but the Cajuns responded with a 14-0 run over the next four minutes kicked off by a quick answer when Jones scored a putback basket at 5:07.
UL's lead grew to 20 points as an additional 10 points off of GSU turnovers followed, the margin reached with three-pointers from Nubia Benedith and Lafayette on back-to-back possessions during the two-minute mark making it 51-31.
The Panthers narrowed the gap by starting the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run that trimmed the Cajuns' lead to 57-43 by the five-minute mark. All doubt was erased after the media timeout, though, as Lafayette buried her sixth and final trey of the afternoon at 4:24 and Aasia Sam converted a layup at 3:53 to extend the lead to 62-43.
The win moved Louisiana back above the .500-mark in SBC play and halted a two-game home losing streak. The Ragin' Cajuns collected their second double-digit point triumph over the first three conference games.
Louisiana posted its third straight win over Georgia State by double digits and improved to 13-4 all-time against the Panthers. It was the fourth consecutive time the matchup between the two programs took place at the Cajundome and the first meeting since December 2022.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Lafayette's 6-of-10 showing from three-point range sparked her sixth consecutive game in double digits. She equaled her career-best output posted on Nov. 8 vs. Loyola (La.) and reached 20 points inside the Cajundome for the third time this season.
Jones was UL's other double-figure scorer, landing five inside baskets in netting 12 points in 21 minutes. She led a group of seven Cajuns with an offensive rebound by totaling three.
All but one of the 11 players to take the court for UL scored at least one point. Lanay Wheaton (7), Sam (6), Benedith (5) and Tamiah Robinson (5) combined 23 points to supplement the efforts of Lafayette and Jones.
Sam led UL with her season-best of seven rebounds. Louisiana out-rebounded GSU 39-30 with 22 boards (seven on offense) coming in the decisive second half.
Louisiana turned GSU over 12 times in both halves, the 24 total turnovers forced marking the 10th time in 12 outings forcing 20-plus turnovers. For the second straight game the Cajuns scored 27 points off of the oppositions turnovers.
UL scored the first four points of the contest and led the entire way. The 27 points produced in the third quarter was the highest-scoring single quarter of the season, surpassing the 23 points in the third quarter at LSU (Dec. 15).
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns take a quick one-game road trip to Mobile, Alabama to meet South Alabama (4-10, 0-3 SBC) on Thursday, January 9 at the Mitchell Center.
The Cajuns-Jaguars matchup is slated to tip-off at 5:00 p.m. It's the first of two matchups between the teams in SBC play, with USA returning the visit on February 26 at the Cajundome.
Louisiana has won the last three meetings in Mobile including last season's 74-42 triumph on Feb. 21, 2024.
Live coverage is available on ESPN+, the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network (The Goat 103.3 FM/1420 AM and Varsity Network app) and CajunStats.com.
Following the USA game, UL returns to the Cajundome on Saturday, January 11 vs. Southern Miss.
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.
Louisiana's 7-for-7 start to the game punctuated a 21-point first quarter which set the tone for the contest. Erica Lafayette, who scored a career-high tying 24 points, connected on three triples during the torrid start, the latter expanding the early edge to 17-8.
Both sides settled in defensively in the second quarter with just five field goal makes combined. Lafayette landed a timely triple at 2:13 after the Panthers closed the gap to 25-23.
Louisiana (6-6, 2-1 SBC) regained its offensive rhythm and capitalized off of miscues by Georgia State (7-7, 1-2 SBC) during an 8-0 run to start the second half. The initial knockout punch was capped off by Kamryn Jones converting a three-point play at 7:44 following a 10-second violation and Tamiah Robinson hitting a jumper at 7:24 following a lostball turnover, stretching the advantage to 36-25.
GSU found a pair of three-point makes over the next two minutes lowering the deficit to 39-31 at 5:23, but the Cajuns responded with a 14-0 run over the next four minutes kicked off by a quick answer when Jones scored a putback basket at 5:07.
UL's lead grew to 20 points as an additional 10 points off of GSU turnovers followed, the margin reached with three-pointers from Nubia Benedith and Lafayette on back-to-back possessions during the two-minute mark making it 51-31.
The Panthers narrowed the gap by starting the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run that trimmed the Cajuns' lead to 57-43 by the five-minute mark. All doubt was erased after the media timeout, though, as Lafayette buried her sixth and final trey of the afternoon at 4:24 and Aasia Sam converted a layup at 3:53 to extend the lead to 62-43.
The win moved Louisiana back above the .500-mark in SBC play and halted a two-game home losing streak. The Ragin' Cajuns collected their second double-digit point triumph over the first three conference games.
Louisiana posted its third straight win over Georgia State by double digits and improved to 13-4 all-time against the Panthers. It was the fourth consecutive time the matchup between the two programs took place at the Cajundome and the first meeting since December 2022.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Lafayette's 6-of-10 showing from three-point range sparked her sixth consecutive game in double digits. She equaled her career-best output posted on Nov. 8 vs. Loyola (La.) and reached 20 points inside the Cajundome for the third time this season.
Jones was UL's other double-figure scorer, landing five inside baskets in netting 12 points in 21 minutes. She led a group of seven Cajuns with an offensive rebound by totaling three.
All but one of the 11 players to take the court for UL scored at least one point. Lanay Wheaton (7), Sam (6), Benedith (5) and Tamiah Robinson (5) combined 23 points to supplement the efforts of Lafayette and Jones.
Sam led UL with her season-best of seven rebounds. Louisiana out-rebounded GSU 39-30 with 22 boards (seven on offense) coming in the decisive second half.
Louisiana turned GSU over 12 times in both halves, the 24 total turnovers forced marking the 10th time in 12 outings forcing 20-plus turnovers. For the second straight game the Cajuns scored 27 points off of the oppositions turnovers.
UL scored the first four points of the contest and led the entire way. The 27 points produced in the third quarter was the highest-scoring single quarter of the season, surpassing the 23 points in the third quarter at LSU (Dec. 15).
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns take a quick one-game road trip to Mobile, Alabama to meet South Alabama (4-10, 0-3 SBC) on Thursday, January 9 at the Mitchell Center.
The Cajuns-Jaguars matchup is slated to tip-off at 5:00 p.m. It's the first of two matchups between the teams in SBC play, with USA returning the visit on February 26 at the Cajundome.
Louisiana has won the last three meetings in Mobile including last season's 74-42 triumph on Feb. 21, 2024.
Live coverage is available on ESPN+, the Ragin' Cajuns Radio Network (The Goat 103.3 FM/1420 AM and Varsity Network app) and CajunStats.com.
Following the USA game, UL returns to the Cajundome on Saturday, January 11 vs. Southern Miss.
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
GSU
LA
FG%
.345
.441
3FG%
.188
.421
FT%
1.000
.727
RB
30
39
TO
24
20
STL
9
9
Game Leaders
Pts
24
FGM
8
3FGM
6
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
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