University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Wednesday, December 17
San Marcos, Texas
5:00 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
0-10,0-1Sun Belt
55
at
62
Texas State
4-6,1-0Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
Louisiana
11
15
13
16
55
Texas St.
11
11
17
23
62
SBC Opener Slips from Cajuns Grasp in Final Minutes
12/17/2025 8:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Texas State overcomes Louisiana during key stretch inside of three minutes to play
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Basketball was in command of the Sun Belt Conference opener at Texas State until a rapid sequence of events inside of three minutes to play sent the Bobcats on to a 62-55 win on Wednesday, December 17 at Strahan Arena in San Marcos, Texas.
The Ragin' Cajuns (0-10, 0-1 SBC) held the lead for over 26 minutes total throughout the contest and pulled back in front with 3:14 remaining after Lily Ba's three-point make provided a 51-49 advantage.
The Bobcats (4-6, 1-0 SBC), who had been trading jabs with Louisiana throughout the fourth quarter, had an answer on the ensuing possession as a triple from Saniya Burks gave the hosts a 52-51 lead.
Texas State then came up with an immediate defensive stop as Burks collected a steal and drove to the hoop drawing a three-point opportunity at 2:24. A simultaneous technical foul called on UL's Imani Daniel turned the trip to the free throw line into five additional unanswered points, quickly stretching the Bobcats' lead to 57-51.
UL would be unable to find a basket until 31.9 seconds remained and the late-game momentum switch held up for the Bobcats.
It was a hard-luck defeat for the Ragin' Cajuns who led by 12 first-half points from Imani Daniel powered their way to a 26-22 halftime lead and protected the advantage well into the latter moments of the third quarter.
Louisiana kept building on a strong first half in the opening minutes of the third quarter as back-to-back pullup jumpers from Daniel and Mikaylah Manley advanced the lead to 32-25 by the 7:41 mark.
The largest lead of the night was obtained when Bianca Silva eyed a three-point basket and sank it at 6:51 advancing the advantage to 35-27. After a 5-0 mini-run from TXST it was a personal four-point spurt from Manley that returned the Cajuns to a comfortable lead at 39-32 inside of the five-minute mark.
The door though would be opened for the Bobcats as the Cajuns went scoreless for the final 4:47 of the third quarter following a pair of Manley free throws. The result was a 7-0 run from Texas State which evened the score at 39-all, making it a brand new game heading into the final stanza.
It would be a tug-of-war for the majority of the fourth quarter with the two teams trading scores and neither team leading by more than two points until the key defensive stop the Bobcats made inside of three minutes to play.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Daniel scored a game-and career-high 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting but the Ragin' Cajuns were without her services during crunch time over the final 2:24 of play after the technical foul marked her fifth foul.
Manley also notched double figures scoring 10 points. Ba was next with seven points and was one of four different Ragin' Cajuns to connect on a three-point make.
UL out-rebounded TXST by a 42-41 margin with Manley's seven rebounds leading a group of four players who grabbed at least five rebounds.
Silva continued her strong work at the point guard position, passing out six of Louisiana's 10 assists. She's now totaled 28 assists over the past six outings.
Texas State benefitted from healthy margins in points off of turnovers (18-8), points in the paint (32-16) and bench points (24-12).
Louisiana finished 9-of-20 from the free throw line which included a 5-of-13 showing in the first half that prevented the squad from widening its early edge and possibly creating an insurmountable lead.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana travels to Hattiesburg, Mississippi to meet Southern Miss on Saturday, December 20 to close out the opening week of conference play.
Tip-off against the Lady Eagles inside Reed Green Coliseum is set for 1:00 p.m. Live coverage is available on ESPN+ and The GOAT 103.3 FM and 1420 AM.
Saturday's bout vs. USM marks Louisiana's last contest prior to the Christmas break.
After the holiday break, the next contest is at the Cajundome on Monday, December 29 vs Dillard. It's the start of a five-game homestand that includes a return to SBC play on New Year's Day vs. Troy.
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.
Fans can support the women's basketball student-athletes, and invest in the program's future, through The Cajuns Edge Fund (click here) to contribute directly to the Louisiana Athletics and Ragin' Cajuns Athletic Foundation's revenue-sharing initiative or by joining the Assist Club (click here).
The Ragin' Cajuns (0-10, 0-1 SBC) held the lead for over 26 minutes total throughout the contest and pulled back in front with 3:14 remaining after Lily Ba's three-point make provided a 51-49 advantage.
The Bobcats (4-6, 1-0 SBC), who had been trading jabs with Louisiana throughout the fourth quarter, had an answer on the ensuing possession as a triple from Saniya Burks gave the hosts a 52-51 lead.
Texas State then came up with an immediate defensive stop as Burks collected a steal and drove to the hoop drawing a three-point opportunity at 2:24. A simultaneous technical foul called on UL's Imani Daniel turned the trip to the free throw line into five additional unanswered points, quickly stretching the Bobcats' lead to 57-51.
UL would be unable to find a basket until 31.9 seconds remained and the late-game momentum switch held up for the Bobcats.
It was a hard-luck defeat for the Ragin' Cajuns who led by 12 first-half points from Imani Daniel powered their way to a 26-22 halftime lead and protected the advantage well into the latter moments of the third quarter.
Louisiana kept building on a strong first half in the opening minutes of the third quarter as back-to-back pullup jumpers from Daniel and Mikaylah Manley advanced the lead to 32-25 by the 7:41 mark.
The largest lead of the night was obtained when Bianca Silva eyed a three-point basket and sank it at 6:51 advancing the advantage to 35-27. After a 5-0 mini-run from TXST it was a personal four-point spurt from Manley that returned the Cajuns to a comfortable lead at 39-32 inside of the five-minute mark.
The door though would be opened for the Bobcats as the Cajuns went scoreless for the final 4:47 of the third quarter following a pair of Manley free throws. The result was a 7-0 run from Texas State which evened the score at 39-all, making it a brand new game heading into the final stanza.
It would be a tug-of-war for the majority of the fourth quarter with the two teams trading scores and neither team leading by more than two points until the key defensive stop the Bobcats made inside of three minutes to play.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Daniel scored a game-and career-high 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting but the Ragin' Cajuns were without her services during crunch time over the final 2:24 of play after the technical foul marked her fifth foul.
Manley also notched double figures scoring 10 points. Ba was next with seven points and was one of four different Ragin' Cajuns to connect on a three-point make.
UL out-rebounded TXST by a 42-41 margin with Manley's seven rebounds leading a group of four players who grabbed at least five rebounds.
Silva continued her strong work at the point guard position, passing out six of Louisiana's 10 assists. She's now totaled 28 assists over the past six outings.
Texas State benefitted from healthy margins in points off of turnovers (18-8), points in the paint (32-16) and bench points (24-12).
Louisiana finished 9-of-20 from the free throw line which included a 5-of-13 showing in the first half that prevented the squad from widening its early edge and possibly creating an insurmountable lead.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
Louisiana travels to Hattiesburg, Mississippi to meet Southern Miss on Saturday, December 20 to close out the opening week of conference play.
Tip-off against the Lady Eagles inside Reed Green Coliseum is set for 1:00 p.m. Live coverage is available on ESPN+ and The GOAT 103.3 FM and 1420 AM.
Saturday's bout vs. USM marks Louisiana's last contest prior to the Christmas break.
After the holiday break, the next contest is at the Cajundome on Monday, December 29 vs Dillard. It's the start of a five-game homestand that includes a return to SBC play on New Year's Day vs. Troy.
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.
Fans can support the women's basketball student-athletes, and invest in the program's future, through The Cajuns Edge Fund (click here) to contribute directly to the Louisiana Athletics and Ragin' Cajuns Athletic Foundation's revenue-sharing initiative or by joining the Assist Club (click here).
- www.RaginCajuns.com -
Team Stats
LA
TXST
FG%
.368
.373
3FG%
.333
.400
FT%
.450
.609
RB
42
41
TO
18
17
STL
9
11
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
5
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
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