Louisiana’s Lady Cajuns struggled badly early, but eventually found their stride in defeating Florida Atlantic on Thursday night by a final score of 79-61.
UL (17-5, 9-2) used a 49-point second half, on 57 percent shooting, to take the game handily. The Cajuns were plagued by 23 turnovers, but out-rebounded FAU (4-18, 0-10) by a significant 58-31 margin.
Despite a terrible shooting first half, the Lady Cajuns were able to carry a four-point lead into the second stanza.
UL was 0-for-8 from three point range in the opening half, with each team shooting just 32.4 percent.
A quick basket by Sonora Edwards gave the Cajuns a six-point edge only 16 seconds into the second half.
The teams then traded baskets over the next five minutes until a lay-up by Kina Miller and a three-point play by Yolanda Jones boosted the Cajuns lead to 41-32 at 14:21.
The Cajuns lead hit double figures for the first time and then doubled following a 16-2 burst. One free throw by Miller, a breakaway lay-up in transition by Jones and back-to-back three-pointers by Onna Charles and Jeanenne Colbert started the scoring barrage. Baskets by Colbert, Jones and Edwards and a Jones free throw gave UL a 60-39 edge with 7:38 to play.
The Owls came back with an 8-2 run, but it wasn’t enough to even dent the Cajuns advantage.
The Cajuns outscored FAU 17-14 over the final six minutes to decide the final outcome.
Four players led the Cajuns with 14 points apiece. Colbert, Edwards, Jones and Alicia McDaniel all contributed 14 points, with Jones collecting high rebounding honors with nine. Kina Miller came off the bench to contribute seven points, eight rebounds and five blocks in 23 minutes.
The Cajuns needed seven shots to get their first basket, but FAU did not capitalize, grabbing just a 6-4 lead at 16:07 of the first half.
Jones’ basket at 15:43 tied the game, and baskets by Miller and Charles gave the Cajuns a 10-9 lead.
Neither team shot well, with each shooting only 26 percent by the seven-minute mark.
An offensive rebound and put-back by Edwards broke a 20-20 deadlock and gave UL a 22-20 lead at the 3:58 mark.
After FAU tied the game again at 24-24, the Cajuns scored four straight points at the free throw line to take a four-point lead. Two from the stripe by McDaniel and Colbert gave the Cajuns at 28-24 edge with 2:00 remaining.
McDaniel’s lay-up with 35 seconds left gave the Cajuns a six-point lead, their biggest of the first half, but Mistoria Brown’s jumper with 12 seconds remaining trimmed the Cajuns lead to four points at the half.
Louisiana will next travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to face #19 Middle Tennessee on Sunday at 2pm.
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