The Book: Lady Cajuns 2007-08 basketball

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First-year UL women's basketball coach Errol Rogers praised senior Alicia McDaniel for her all-around effort last week in a win over Centenary. Rogers gave senior Onna Charles the glory after Sunday's 63-40 victory over LSU-Shreveport in non-conference action at Earl K. Long Gym. Charles finished with a team-high 14 points in her 68th consecutive start for the Ragin' Cajuns (3-4). Her reverse layup midway through the first half sparked a 17-4 run that gave UL the lead for good against LSUS, an NAIA Division II program. "She picked it up today, especially defensively," Rogers said of Charles, who is 58 points away from 1,000 career points. "We know Onna can score. She can nail shots. But defensively she stepped it up. That was a big part for us." The rest of the story Joshua Parrott jparrott@theadvertiser.com

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AUSTIN, Texas - Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns women’s basketball team takes their two-game winning streak on the road to take on their second ranked opponent of the year. The Cajuns (3-4) will face off against No. 20 Texas at the Frank Erwin Center on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. The Cajuns enter the game against Texas on the heels of back-to-back victories. UL broke a string of five consecutive non-conference road losses with a 78-71 victory over Centenary. The Cajuns followed with a 63-40 home win over LSU-Shreveport. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 1-2 all-time against the Longhorns. The Cajuns claimed the first game of the series. The two teams squared off in the Sam Houston State Tournament in Huntsville, Texas on Feb. 10, 1973 with the Cajuns taking a 55-39 win. Texas evened the series with an 82-40 victory on Feb. 9, 1979 in Houston, Texas. The two teams met last season in the 2007 Basketball Travelers Classic. Texas, who was ranked No. 25 at the time, didn’t make its first three-point basket until 11:58 left in the game, but the basket made by Tiffany Jackson triggered a 10-0 run which rallied the Longhorns to a 69-59 victory over UL. The Ragin’ Cajuns returned to Austin later in the 2006-07 season as they participated in the school’s first ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The Cajuns dropped an 87-58 decision to No. 21 Marquette. Homecoming: The Ragin’ Cajuns have three players who are returning home to the Lone Star State for the match-up with the Longhorns. Seniors Sonora Edwards and Alicia McDaniel hail from Snook and Houston respectively, while sophomore Ovigwerade Agbuke is a native of San Antonio. Senior Leadership: UL has more seniors than any other school in the Sun Belt. The Cajuns six-pack of seniors Onna Charles (New Iberia, La.), Sonora Edwards (Snook, Texas), Elaine McCants (Boston, Mass.), Alicia McDaniel (Houston, Texas), Kina Miller (Aurora, Ill.) and Courtney Ratliff (Canton, Miss.) have played in a total of 368 games. 1,000-point Watch: Onna Charles (New Iberia, La.) and Sonora Edwards (Snook, Texas) both enter the season within sight of 1,000 career points. Charles sits just 58 points shy, while Edwards needs 197 more points to reach the coveted plateau. There’s No Place Like Home: The Ragin’ Cajuns dropped a home game to in-state foe Tulane on Wednesday, Nov. 28, to snap their 17-game home non-conference winning streak. The Cajuns have still won 18 of their last 19 home non-conference games. Conversely, the Cajuns had lost five consecutive non-conference road games until their 78-71 victory over Centenary on Dec. 1. Prior to the win, the Cajuns last victory on the road against a non-conference opponent came on Nov. 30, 2006 at Texas Southern. UL downed the Lady Tigers 82-48. Records Section: Alicia McDaniel (Houston, Texas) is 15 games played away from the all-time mark. Onna Charles (New Iberia, La.) needs 10 games started to move into a tie for fifth place. Charles needs 59 field goals to crack the career top 10. Sonora Edwards (Snook, Texas), currently seventh, is 134 rebounds from second all-time. Charles sits in the top five in career three-point field goals made, attempted and percentage. RaginCajuns.com Chris Whitehead

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AUSTIN, Texas - Carla Cortijo led Texas' up-tempo offense, scoring 14 points and adding seven assists in the No. 20 Longhorns' 76-43 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette on Sunday. Texas (8-2) struggled to find its shooting rhythm in the first half, but opened the second half with a 21-12 run to build an insurmountable 59-35 lead. Brittainey Raven, who scored in double-figures for the 10th game in a row, had 12 points, six assists and five rebounds as four other Longhorns finished with eight or more points. Cortijo had nine of her points during a 14-3 run in the last 5:34 of the first half. The rest of the story

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Onna Charles and Sonora Edwards both entered the season within sight of 1,000 career points. UL - Lady Cajuns basketball returns home to historic Earl K. Long Gym for their final home game of 2007. The Cajuns (3-5) will play host to Nicholls State (1-7) on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. The Cajuns will look to continue their recent success at home. UL dropped a home game to in-state foe Tulane on Wednesday, Nov. 28, to snap their 17-game home non-conference winning streak. Despite the loss, the Cajuns have won 18 of their last 19 home non-conference games. Before the loss to the Green Wave, the Cajuns last home non-conference loss was a 63-50 loss to Memphis on Nov. 25, 2002. The Cajuns are 76-82 (.481) all-time in Long Gym, but have compiled a 32-6 (.842) over the past three years. The meeting between the two teams will be the 49th in the series. The Cajuns hold a 30-18 advantage over the Lady Colonels. The Ragin’ Cajuns have won the last three meetings in the series. The last time the two teams met, UL claimed a 74-62 win on Dec. 21, 2005 at Nicholls State. The Lady Colonels last victory in the series came on Nov. 22, 2002. Offensively, the Ragin’ Cajuns enter the game led by a foursome of upper classmen. Senior Sonora Edwards (Snook, Texas) currently leads the team with 12.0 points per game this season. She is followed closely by junior Whitney Dunlap (Baton Rouge, La.), who boasts a 9.9 average. Onna Charles (New Iberia, La.) and Alicia McDaniel (Houston, Texas) are averaging 9.4 and 8.8 points per game, respectively. Charles and Edwards both entered the season within sight of 1,000 career points. Charles sits just 46 points shy, while Edwards needs 191 more points to reach the coveted plateau. The Cajuns have 11 players who have scored over 1,000 points in their career. Yolanda Jones (2006-07) was the most recent addition to the 1,000-point club scoring 1,090 points in her two-year career with the Cajuns. QUICK HITS Senior Leadership: UL has more seniors than any other school in the Sun Belt. The Cajuns six-pack of seniors Onna Charles (New Iberia, La.), Sonora Edwards (Snook, Texas), Elaine McCants (Boston, Mass.), Alicia McDaniel (Houston, Texas), Kina Miller (Aurora, Ill.) and Courtney Ratliff (Canton, Miss.) have played in a total of 373 games. Records Section: Alicia McDaniel (Houston, Texas) is 14 games played away from the all-time mark. Onna Charles (New Iberia, La.) needs nine games started to move into a tie for fifth place. Charles needs 55 field goals to crack the career top 10. Sonora Edwards (Snook, Texas), currently fourth, is 126 rebounds from second all-time. Charles sits in the top five in career three-point field goals made, attempted and percentage. RginCajuns.com Chris Whitehead

[CajunCherokee]

Excuse my ignorance, but how is this the last home game of the season for the girls? The season just started. Is it their last home game at EKL? With the remaining games at the Dome?

[RaginCajunPie]

No....it's the last game of the year (2007...because it's about to be New Year's), not the last game of the season.

[CajunCherokee]

Duh. Why would the article even mention that in the headline?

Plus they started throwing in stats about games played at EKL. Its almost like they were getting ready to tear it down or something...

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Errol Rogers wanted his UL women's basketball team to go into Saturday's Sun Belt Conference opener at UL-Monroe on a high note. Alicia McDaniel made sure of that Tuesday night. McDaniel sparked a game-changing run in the first half as the Ragin' Cajuns ran past Nicholls State, 74-47, at Earl K. Long Gym. The senior forward tied a career-high with 17 points - including 12 during UL's 32-15 run to close the first half. "She felt it early today when she was shooting around. I said 'I need that tonight' and she said 'You're going to get it,'" Rogers said of McDaniel. "She's one of our leaders and one of our captains. When she comes out and plays like that everyone else feeds off her." The rest of the story Joshua Parrott jparrott@theadvertiser.com

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Knowing only one game remained before the start of Sun Belt Conference play, Alicia McDaniel looked to give the UL women's basketball team a confidence boost Tuesday against Nicholls State. In her mind, she did just that after tying her career high with 17 points in a 74-47 win. "I think this was a confidence-builder going into (our conference opener)," said McDaniel, whose Cajuns (4-5) play today at UL-Monroe (7-3). "I think we have to work on our defense. But as long as our defense is working I think we're going to be unstoppable in conference. "As long as our defense and rebounding is good, we're going to be fine." Errol Rogers, UL's first-year coach, knows the Cajuns will have their hands full against ULM. Both teams have won three of their last four games this season. The rest of the story Joshua Parrott jparrott@theadvertiser.com

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After Alicia McDaniel saw another golden opportunity slip away on the road, the normally quiet senior wasn't afraid to voice her frustration. In what's become a trend this season, the UL women's basketball team struggled on the road again last week, opening Sun Belt Conference play with a 72-59 loss at UL-Monroe. The Ragin' Cajuns (4-6) held a 10-point lead early in the second half, but couldn't hold on as they fell to 1-5 this season on the road. After the team took a couple days off for Christmas, McDaniel relished the chance to get back in the gym and erase the memories of another painful road loss. "We're going to work hard and try to get better with the things we did wrong," said McDaniel, whose Cajuns play at Savannah State (6-5) at 2 p.m. (CST) today. "That's all we can do." Going into last week's game at ULM, first-year UL coach Errol Rogers said his team could beat the Warhawks if it stayed close. He showed his frustrations when it didn't work out that way. Even after the loss, Rogers said the Cajuns can still be successful. In Rogers' mind, enjoying the same success as last season - which included a Sun Belt Conference West Division title and the program's first NCAA tournament appearance - hinges on whether UL can do one thing. The rest of the story Joshua Parrott jparrott@theadvertiser.com

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SAVANNAH, Ga. - Louisiana’s Lady Cajuns basketball team trailed by as many as 15 points late in the second half, but cut the lead to as little as five points before falling to Savannah State 71-62 on Friday afternoon at Tiger Arena. The Cajuns fell to 4-7 on the season, while the Lady Tigers improved to 7-5. UL was led offensively by seniors Alicia McDaniel (Houston, Texas) and Sonora Edwards (Snook, Texas). McDaniel led all Cajuns with 13 points. The double-digit effort was her third straight and her sixth of the year. Edwards finished the game with a double-double. She netted 10 points and grabbed 11 boards for her second straight double-double and her fourth of the season. The Ragin’ Cajuns trailed 62-47 with 5:53 remaining in the game. A pair of free throws by Edwards, a jumper by Onna Charles (New Iberia, La.) and a freebie by Kina Miller (Aurora, Ill.) cut the deficit to 62-52 with less than five minutes to play. A lay-up by Edwards with 3:50 remaining on the clock cut the SSU advantage to just eight points. The Cajuns cut the lead to five points on the ensuing possession. Dunlap stole the inbounds pass and connected on a triple trim the margin to 62-57 with 3:35 to play. The Tigers converted a three-point play, but Elaine McCants (Boston, Mass.) countered that with a triple as the shot clock was expiring with 2:38 to play trimming the lead to 65-60. The Cajuns managed just one basket the remainder of the game, being outscored 6-2 over the final two minutes. The two teams play almost even for the first 10 minutes of the game. Savannah State opened the game with a basket, but the Cajuns took a 6-2 lead thanks to a pair of lay-ups by Courtney Ratliff (Canton, Miss.) and a jumper by McDaniel. The Lady Tigers responded with five straight points to take a 7-6 lead with 16:19 left to play in the first half. The Cajuns used a lay-up by Ratliff and a triple by McCants to regain their four-point edge. A basket by Charles gave the Cajuns a six point lead – their largest of the first half – at 13-7. With the Cajuns leading 21-17, Savannah State made a charge and took advantage of an UL scoring drought. The drought lasted nearly six minutes, and the Lady Tigers were able to build an 11-point lead with a 13-0 run. Edwards ended the scoring deficiency with a lay-up at the 3:44 mark of the first half, cutting the deficit to single digits at 32-23. The two teams exchanged baskets over the final two minutes of the first half and UL entered the locker room at halftime on the wrong end of a 36-25 score. Savannah State built their lead to as many 15-points before the Cajuns went on a 10-2 run. Trailing 41-26 with 5:53 to play, Charles drained a triple from the top of the key and McDaniel followed with a jumper to cut the lead to 10. A basket by the Lady Tigers pushed the lead back to a dozen, but a trey by McDaniel, followed by a lay-up by Sonora Edwards cut the advantage to seven at 43-36. Trailing 48-36, Dunlap scored the next five points for the Cajuns. Dunlap drained a three-pointer and converted 2-of-3 free throws after being fouled taking another trey. SSU extended their lead to 13 points before the Cajuns responded back-to-back lay-ups to cut the Tigers’ advantage to 54-45 with 10:12 remaining in the game. Over the next four minutes, the Lady Tigers out scored the Cajuns 8-2 to extend their lead to back to 15 points. The Ragin’ Cajuns continue their road swing as they head to Starkville, Miss. to take on Mississippi State. Tip-off for the game is slated for 3:30 p.m. center> Ragin'Cajuns.com

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STARKVILLE, Miss. - Louisiana’s Lady Cajuns basketball team dropped their third straight road game as they fell to Mississippi State, 80-55 on Sunday afternoon at the Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Miss. Leading the way for the Cajuns (4-8) was Mississippi native Courtney Ratliff (Canton, Miss.) In her return to the Magnolia State, Ratliff netted a team-high 15 points and pulled down six rebounds, while adding five steals. Following Ratliff was Alicia McDaniel (Houston, Texas) who scored 11 points on the day. Her 11 points marked the fourth consecutive double-digit effort by McDaniel and the seventh time this season. Sonora Edwards (Snook, Texas) led all Cajuns with eight rebounds. In the opening minutes of the first half, the two teams played even matching each other basket for basket. Neither team held a lead larger than two points throughout the first four-minutes of the contest. The Cajuns held a 10-9 lead thanks to an Elaine McCants (Boston, Mass.) triple with 16:15 to play in the first half. A pair of free throws gave the hosts a one-point edge, and a triple from the top of the key with 15:12 on the clock gave Mississippi State their biggest lead to that point. The four-point edge didn’t last long as Edwards cut the lead to 14-12 with 14:54 remaining in the half. Trailing 17-12, Ratliff drained a three pointer to cut the MSU lead to just a pair. The Lady Bulldogs went on a 12-0 run to take a 29-15 lead with 9:04 remaining in the first half. Whitney Dunlap (Baton Rouge, La.) ended the Cajuns’ five minute scoring drought with a triple to cut the Mississippi State advantage to 11 with 8:34 to play in the half. The Cajuns were held scoreless in the final 6:32 of the first half and allowed the Lady Bulldogs to extend their lead to as many as 21. Mississippi State took a 41-20 edge into the locker room at halftime as they closed out the final 7:45 on a 12-2 run. In the second half, Mississippi State continued to roll. They slowly built their lead up to as many as 31 points. The Lady Cajuns cut the deficit to as little as 18 points early in the second half, but could get no closer and fell by a final score of 80-55. Louisiana’s Lady Cajuns basketball team returns home for a doubleheader with the men’s team. The Cajuns will square off with Arkansas State at 4:30 p.m. at the CAJUNDOME with the men’s game to follow at 7:05 p.m. RaginCajuns.com

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For as long as he can remember, Errol Rogers has taken pride in his team's approach on the defensive end of the basketball court. "I've always been defensive-minded," said Rogers, in his first year as the UL women's coach. "But with what's happened (this season) you'd never know with as many points as we've been giving up." The numbers speak the same truth. As of Dec. 16, the Ragin' Cajuns (4-8 overall, 0-1 Sun Belt Conference) rank 285th out of 326 NCAA Division I teams this season in points allowed per game (70.5). They haven't helped themselves much on offense, ranking 283rd nationally in turnovers per game (21.8). The rest of the story Joshua Parrott jparrott@theadvertiser.com

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Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns fell to Arkansas State on Thursday afternoon by a final score of 71-65. UL (4-9, 0-2) led for nearly the entire first half, but once ASU (7-7, 2-1) took the lead, the Cajuns were never able to get it back. Down a pair at the half, Courtney Ratliff tied the score 31 seconds into the second stanza. Five minutes later, a three-point play by Ratliff pulled the Cajuns within two points, 41-39, but ASU responded with an 11-2 run to take a 52-41 lead with 11:08 remaining. Bronson Rodgers drilled a triple from the corner, her fifth of season, to stop the Indians run and start a Cajuns burst. Ratliff followed with two free throws, Sonora Edwards nailed her fifth triple of the season and D’Mya Clay connected on her fourth three-pointer of the season to tie the game at 52-52 with 8:21 showing on the clock. With UL trailing by two, the Indians’ Carolina Starr delivered the dagger, hitting a three-pointer from the wing to extend ASU’s lead to five, 63-58, with 2:59 left to play. Five quick points from Alicia McDaniel cut the visitors lead to 67-63 and a pair from the stripe by Rodgers made is a two-point game with 1:18 remaining. The Cajuns were unable to score the rest of the game, falling by six points. Ratliff led UL with 16 points and nine rebounds. Edwards and McDaniel each added 14 points. Veronica Smith enjoyed a game-high 18 points to lead four Indians in double-figures. Both teams committed more than 16 fouls and turned the ball over more than 20 times. The Cajuns built an 8-2 lead in the first five minutes of the game. The Indians closed within one point, 8-7, at the 13:12 mark, but the Cajuns responded with a 10-3 run to regain their eight-point edge. McDaniel started the spurt, before Clay made a triple. Edwards contributed a free throw, McDaniel hit two from the stripe and then Ratliff finished the run with a basket. ASU tied the game at 28-28 with 2:29 remaining in the first half and took their first lead on a three-point basket from Rachel Baker with 36 seconds remaining. The Indians carried a 33-31 at the break. The Cajuns will be in action again this Saturday to face New Orleans at 4:30pm in the Cajundome. RaginCajuns.com

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The frustration continued for the UL women's basketball team, which started 2008 the same way it ended 2007: With another disappointing loss. This time, it was Arkansas State causing the problems. The Lady Indians increased their intensity late and rallied for a 71-65 win Thursday in Sun Belt Conference play at the Cajundome. Now the Ragin' Cajuns (4-9 overall, 0-2 SBC) must find a way to rebound quickly with New Orleans (8-5, 2-0) coming to the Cajundome today. UL enters today's game having lost four straight. First-year UL coach Errol Rogers said a couple things have to happen for the Cajuns to end their recent struggles. "I keep reminding them to stay motivated and don't give up," Rogers said. "They've got to believe in what we're doing. We have to play a complete game." The rest of the story Joshua Parrott jparrott@theadvertiser.com