University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, January 2
Lafayette
5 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
9-2, 2-0SBC
60
vs
51
Appalachian State
4-7, 1-1SBC
1
2
3
4
F
Appalachian State
7
11
21
12
51
Louisiana
12
11
19
18
60
Strong Defensive Effort Helps Cajuns Top App State
1/2/2016 8:13:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Cajuns held Mountaineers to 18 points in the first half of 60-51 win
LAFAYETTE – For the first time since the 2004-05 campaign, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team began the conference season at 2-0 with a 60-51 victory over visiting Appalachian State at the Cajundome Saturday afternoon.
"When you can hold a Division I opponent to 51 points like we did it's something we can feel good about," Ragin' Cajuns head coach Garry Brodhead said. "I enjoyed how hard we played on defense and controlled the boards. It's a win against a conference opponent and we will take the victory any way we can."
The Cajuns (9-2, 2-0 SBC) and Mountaineers opened the game in an offensive struggle, combining to hit six shots on 27 attempts.
Louisiana senior guard Kia Wilridge and junior guard Jaylyn Gordon deposited six points apiece in the opening stanza. Appalachian State took a 5-4 lead on a three-pointer by Kaila Craven with 5:19 on the first quarter clock, but responded when Gordon hit a pair of free throws and Wilridge dropped in consecutive layups to put the Cajuns ahead, 10-5.
The Mountaineers began the second quarter on a 6-0 run with three straight layups and jumped ahead, 13-12.
After a free throw by senior Brooklyn Arceneaux knotted the game at 13-13 at the 7:11 mark, Appalachian State regained the lead on a jumper by Madi Story, but four straight free throw makes by the Cajuns put the Mountaineers in a 17-15 hole with 3:08 to go in the first half.
The two foes traded buckets over the next three possessions before Appalachian State's Joi Jones hit a free throw with a second remaining, making it a 23-18 contest.
The Mountaineers closed to within a point at 26-25 at the 7:33 mark of the third quarter, but Arceneaux splashed a jumper to bump the lead back to three.
The Cajuns maintained the lead for the remainder of the quarter and took a 42-39 lead into the final quarter of play.
Ashley Bassett-Smith began the fourth quarter with a layup, but Wilridge answered with a layup of her own at the 7:32 mark, making it a 44-41 ballgame.
The two foes went the next 2:33 without scoring until Cajuns senior Keke Veal deposited a free throw, bumping the lead to 45-41.
Veal drew another foul at the 3:52 mark and finished the possession with two free throws to put the Cajuns in front, 47-41.
Appalachian State cut the Cajuns lead to three on two separate occasions in the final 2:35, but were unable to draw any closer as Louisiana picked up their seventh win in the past eight games.
Gordon scored 10 points to go with six assists, one shy of tying her career high. Veal tied her career high with six steals and added 10 points and an assist. The 10 points extended her double-digit point streak to 25 games.
The win was the 56th in Brodhead's collegiate coaching career - all with the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns program. The 56 victories places him two shy from passing Ross Cook to become the second-winningest coach in program history.
The Cajuns will travel to Arkansas to play Little Rock next Thursday, Jan. 7 for a 5:15 p.m. tip-off.
Season tickets for the 2015-16 campaign are available by calling the Cajundome ticket office at (337) 265-2100, or by emailing Director of Tickets, Matt Casbon at mcasbon@cajundome.com.
For more information on the Louisiana women's basketball program, fans can Like their Facebook page (/RaginCajunsWBB) or follow the team on Twitter (@RaginCajunsWBB).
"When you can hold a Division I opponent to 51 points like we did it's something we can feel good about," Ragin' Cajuns head coach Garry Brodhead said. "I enjoyed how hard we played on defense and controlled the boards. It's a win against a conference opponent and we will take the victory any way we can."
The Cajuns (9-2, 2-0 SBC) and Mountaineers opened the game in an offensive struggle, combining to hit six shots on 27 attempts.
Louisiana senior guard Kia Wilridge and junior guard Jaylyn Gordon deposited six points apiece in the opening stanza. Appalachian State took a 5-4 lead on a three-pointer by Kaila Craven with 5:19 on the first quarter clock, but responded when Gordon hit a pair of free throws and Wilridge dropped in consecutive layups to put the Cajuns ahead, 10-5.
The Mountaineers began the second quarter on a 6-0 run with three straight layups and jumped ahead, 13-12.
After a free throw by senior Brooklyn Arceneaux knotted the game at 13-13 at the 7:11 mark, Appalachian State regained the lead on a jumper by Madi Story, but four straight free throw makes by the Cajuns put the Mountaineers in a 17-15 hole with 3:08 to go in the first half.
The two foes traded buckets over the next three possessions before Appalachian State's Joi Jones hit a free throw with a second remaining, making it a 23-18 contest.
The Mountaineers closed to within a point at 26-25 at the 7:33 mark of the third quarter, but Arceneaux splashed a jumper to bump the lead back to three.
The Cajuns maintained the lead for the remainder of the quarter and took a 42-39 lead into the final quarter of play.
Ashley Bassett-Smith began the fourth quarter with a layup, but Wilridge answered with a layup of her own at the 7:32 mark, making it a 44-41 ballgame.
The two foes went the next 2:33 without scoring until Cajuns senior Keke Veal deposited a free throw, bumping the lead to 45-41.
Veal drew another foul at the 3:52 mark and finished the possession with two free throws to put the Cajuns in front, 47-41.
Appalachian State cut the Cajuns lead to three on two separate occasions in the final 2:35, but were unable to draw any closer as Louisiana picked up their seventh win in the past eight games.
Gordon scored 10 points to go with six assists, one shy of tying her career high. Veal tied her career high with six steals and added 10 points and an assist. The 10 points extended her double-digit point streak to 25 games.
The win was the 56th in Brodhead's collegiate coaching career - all with the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns program. The 56 victories places him two shy from passing Ross Cook to become the second-winningest coach in program history.
The Cajuns will travel to Arkansas to play Little Rock next Thursday, Jan. 7 for a 5:15 p.m. tip-off.
Season tickets for the 2015-16 campaign are available by calling the Cajundome ticket office at (337) 265-2100, or by emailing Director of Tickets, Matt Casbon at mcasbon@cajundome.com.
For more information on the Louisiana women's basketball program, fans can Like their Facebook page (/RaginCajunsWBB) or follow the team on Twitter (@RaginCajunsWBB).
Team Stats
APP
UL
FG%
.382
.314
3FG%
.273
.000
FT%
.667
.683
RB
39
33
TO
24
14
STL
5
13
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Women's BasketballPG
/ Women's BasketballPG
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