Cajuns Host UNO In First Round Of The Preseason WNIT

LAFAYETTE – For the first time since 2005, and only the second time in school history, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns will take part in the Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament hosting the New Orleans Privateers, on Friday at 7 p.m., opening their regular season with a first-round matchup at the Cajundome.

The Cajuns finished the 2016-17 season with a 20-11 record and they didn't make a trip to the postseason. But they did finish the season strong making the longest run in the Sun Belt Conference tournament since 2007, as they made it all the way to the championship game before falling to Troy.

CAJUNS OPEN AT HOME: Last season the Cajuns opened their regular season on the road at McNeese, winning 77-70 on Nov. 12, 2016. They didn't host a regular season home game until Dec. 1, a 74-55 win over Xavier, which was the latest home opener for the Cajuns since opening their home portion of the schedule on Dec. 16, 2006.

THE CAJUNS MATCHUP: The match up with New Orleans is the first time the Cajuns have faced off with the Privateers since Dec. 14, 2013. In that game, the Cajuns won 71-42 and the last time the Privateers made the trip to the Cajundome was Dec. 13, 2012, which the Cajuns won as well, 68-41.

For New Orleans, who finished the 2016-17 with a 14-15 record, it's their first game of the season having not played any exhibition games and it's the first time in school history that the Privateers have made an appearance in the Preseason WNIT.

LAST TIME OUT: Louisiana faced the Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Nuggets in their second exhibition game on Nov. 4 at the Cajundome. The Cajuns came back from a two-point halftime deficit, thanks to a great second half from freshman Skyler Goodwin who scored all 14 of her points during the second half, to win 59-50.

It was their second win of the exhibition season having beating LSU-Alexandria, 86-48, on Oct. 31 also at the Cajundome.

Senior Simone Fields had a double-double against Xavier (La.) finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while freshman Ty'Reonne Doucet was a perfect 6-6 from the field finishing with 15 points to power the Cajuns second half comeback giving them a 2-0 record in the exhibition season.

RAGIN' CAJUNS IN THE PRESEASON WNIT: The Cajuns were last in the Preseason WNIT at the start of the 2005 season when they opened the season in Dallas, Texas on Nov. 11 against SMU. Louisiana lost that game 53-45 so a win on Friday night would be the first win in the Preseason WNIT in school history.

WNIT SECOND ROUND MATCHUP: The second-round matchup for the Cajuns, since they're guaranteed at least three games in the WNIT format, will be either a matchup against Texas A&M or Houston.

That game will be on the road and will take place on Sunday, Nov. 12, that information will be official following the game against New Orleans, since it's effected on the outcome of the game between the Aggies and the Cougars.

LOUISIANA PICKED HIGH IN SBC POLL: The Cajuns were picked to finish fourth in the 2017-18 Preseason Poll, which was released on Nov. 2. Louisiana sits just three points behind Troy, with the Trojans sitting in third, while Little Rock finished in second and UT-Arlington was picked to finish first.

2017-18 CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACHES' PRESEASON POLL
First-place votes in parentheses

1. UTA (7) - 136 pts                                        7. South Alabama - 70 pts
2. Little Rock (2) - 125 pts                              8. Georgia State - 65 pts
3. Troy (2) - 119 pts                                        9. Appalachian State - 50 pts
4. Louisiana (1) - 116 pts 10. Georgia Southern - 48 pts
5. Texas State - 89 pts                                   11. Coastal Carolina - 33 pts
6. Arkansas State - 71 pts                          12. ULM - 14 pts

TWO CAJUNS GET PRESEASON HONORS: Fields and sophomore Jasmine Thomas each got named to the SBC Preseason teams, with Fields getting named to the Preseason All-Conference First Team and Thomas getting named to the Preseason All-Conference Third Team.

Preseason All-Conference First Team         Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Madi Story (Appalachian State, Guard, Sr.) Jada Lewis (Georgia State, Guard, So.)
Simone Fields (Louisiana, Forward, Sr.) Gabriella Cortez (ULM, Forward, Sr.)
Chyna Ellis (South Alabama, Center, Sr.)       Taeler Deer (Texas State, Guard, Sr.)
Cierra Johnson (UTA, Guard, Sr.)                   Toshua Leavitt (Texas State, Guard, Jr.)
Rebekah VanDijk (UTA, Center, Sr.)               Amanda Mendoza (Troy, Guard, Sr.)

Preseason All-Conference Third Team           Preseason Player of the Year
Madison Newby (Georgia State, Guard, So.)     Rebekah VanDijk (UTA, Center, Sr.)
Jasmine Thomas (Louisiana, Guard, So.)
Genesis Perrymond (South Alabama, Guard, Sr.)
Crystal Allen (UTA, Guard, Sr.)
Ericka May (Texas State, Forward, Sr.)

PARKING AND TICKETS: Parking for the game is free of charge and fans can park wherever they like within the Cajundome parking lots, and lots open two hours prior to tip. Tickets are general admission as is seating meaning that fans can sit wherever they please within the Cajundome.

HOW TO WATCH: The game will be streamed on RaginCajuns.com on the Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network free of charge, but the game won't be broadcast on radio making the Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network the only way to watch or listen to the game.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE CAJUNS: Follow the Cajuns @RaginCajunsWBB on twitter for links to live stats and the live stream on game day. Along with links to the postgame recap that'll have where the Cajuns will play next.

#GEAUXCAJUNS

Cajuns Host UNO In First Round Of The Preseason WNIT

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Players Mentioned

Ty'Reona Doucet

Simone Fields

Skyler Goodwin

Jasmine Thomas

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