<blockquote><p align=justify>
Louisiana's Lady Cajuns lost a 17-point second half lead, but regained their composure to take a 69-67 overtime victory over La.-Monroe on Saturday afternoon at historic Earl K. Long Gym.
UL improves to 9-19 (4-12), while ULM falls to 9-18 (3-14).
The game could have ended numerous times had it not been for the Cajuns inability to make free throws. UL was 16-of-31 (51.6%) from the free throw line, while ULM was 19-of-22 (86.4%) from the stripe.
Both teams combined to shoot 5-of-29 from three-point range.
The Cajuns took a quick lead four second into overtime on one free throw by Jasmine Barnes. Barnes added to the UL edge with another free throw 1:38 later, but ULM tied the game 21 seconds after that.
A short jumper in the paint by Mercedes Johnson and two from the stripe by Alexis Green gave UL a 65-61 lead with 1:28 left in overtime.
Leading by one, 66-65, Johnson buried two from the line with 27.3 showing in OT, but Nicole Morris missed both free throws with 14.3 remaining.
Elizabeth Torres had a chance at a three-point play to tie the contest with 8.6 seconds left, but she missed the free throw. Morris grabbed the rebound and could have iced the game, but she missed both free throws with 4.9 seconds remaining. After her second miss, Morris was able to secure a jump ball. The possession arrow favored the Cajuns and Barnes added a free throw with 2.3 seconds to go. Barnes then missed the second free throw, but ULM never had a chance to get another shot off.
Green led the Cajuns with 18 points. Johnson had 17 points and 10 rebounds, marking her fifth career double-double. Barnes completed the trio of Cajuns in double figures, also finishing with 17 points.
ULM was led by Priscilla Mbiandja, who scored 19 points. Torres added 18 points and Sannisha Williams finished with 10 points and 17 rebounds.
Leading by three points six minutes into the second half, the Cajuns used a 16-2 run to take their biggest lead of the game, 56-39, with 7:06 remaining.
Amy Richard started the run with baskets on consecutive possessions. Barnes followed with buckets on consecutive possessions. Johnson scored and Michelle Brunker tallied four points before Richard finished the burst with another basket. The Cajuns' defense held ULM scoreless for a 5:43 span and without a field goal for 7:29.
The Warhawks used an effective full-court press and immediately countered with 16 unanswered points. The Cajuns scoring draught lasted 6:41, and when it ended, Barnes stood at the free throw line with 24.7 seconds remaining and UL clinging to a one-point lead.
Barnes hit both from the charity stripe, but Mbiandja quickly scored for the Warhawks. Green made only one free throw with 15.6 seconds left and ULM tied the game at 59-59 on a lay-up by Torres with three seconds remaining.
The Cajuns took the lead exactly three minutes into the contest and held the advantage for the remainder of the first half thanks to forcing 15 ULM turnovers. The Cajuns had only four miscues in the first half.
Barnes scored six points in the first four minutes of the game to help the Cajuns take a 9-3 lead. UL extended its' lead to eight points on three different occasions - the last coming on Barnes fourth basket with 12:23 remaining in the first stanza.
The Cajuns could have taken an even bigger first half lead with a few rebounds. UL didn't' record their first defensive rebound until nine minutes remained in the first half.
ULM stayed in the game thanks to their rebounding. With 6:30 remaining, ULM held a 20-6 edge on the boards, including 11-4 on the offensive glass. Those offensive rebounds created 11 second chance points, helping the Warhawks pull within three points, 24-21.
The Cajuns' lead was cut to one point four different times, but five points from Green in the final 2:06 helped give the hosts a 35-31 lead after 20 minutes.
