UL - Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns women’s basketball team will return to action on Friday, Nov. 21 as they play host to the Mercer Bears. The Cajuns enter the game with an 0-2 record, while the Bears boast a 1-1 overall record.

The Ragin’ Cajuns have squared off with Mercer five times in their history with the Bears holding a slight 3-2 (.600) edge over UL. Mercer has only played one game against the Cajuns in Lafayette, with Louisiana edging the visitors 70-67 in overtime on Dec. 20, 2001.

The Cajuns opened up the Errol Rogers Era on the road last season against Mercer. The Bears claimed the victory 72-61.

Louisiana won the first meeting with Mercer back on Dec. 2, 1989 by a score of 94-74. Ironically, the win against Mercer was coming off the heels of a loss to Ole Miss – the Cajuns last opponent.

UL has two players averaging in double figures. Alexis Green leads the team with 14.0 points per game, while Jasmine Barnes boasts 10.0 points per game.

The 2008-09 Ragin’ Cajuns women’s basketball team is comprised of 16 players. Of those 16 players, seven are from the Pelican State, nearly 44-percent of the roster. None of the Ragin’ Cajuns are from the state of Georgia, while Nicole Leonard (Gretna, La.) is the lone player from Louisiana on Mercer’s roster.

The Cajuns have nine new players on the team this season, which accounts for over half of the roster (56.3 percent). Of the remaining seven players, only Whitney Dunlap has more than one varsity letter.

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WBB Food Drive for the Holidays

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns are sponsoring a food drive for the Thanksgiving holiday. Fans who bring two (2) cans of food to the women’s basketball game on Sunday afternoon against Centenary will receive free admission. The food will be donated to the Food Bank for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Dunlap Among Cajuns Best Behind Arc

Senior guard Whitney Dunlap began her final season with the Louisiana women’s basketball team in seventh place all-time in the Cajuns’ record books with 93 three pointers made and sixth all-time with 354 three-point field goal attempts. After two games this season, Dunlap is up to 97 triples made, just 13 shy of tying Charlotte Green (1999-03) for sixth place in Cajuns history. Dunlap has recorded 10 three-point field goal attempts and is just 72 shots short of tying Onna Charles (2005-08) for fifth all-time. Dunlap currently stands with a career three-point field goal percentage of .261 – just .006 shy of breaking into the Cajuns’ Top 10.

Moving Up the Record Books

Whitney Dunlap is set to make an impact for the Cajuns from behind the arc this season, but Dunlap is also poised to break into the Ragin’ Cajuns record books for more than her long distance shots. The Baton Rouge native has played in 89 total games in her career just 18 shy of tying Ann Harper (1983-88), Alyson Habetz (1990-95) and Bernette Tolston (2001-04) for 10th all-time in games played. If Dunlap finishes the regular season playing in every game, she will end her career in third place all-time with 117 games played. Dunlap has a 148 assists in her career, just 49 shy of tying Teena Cooper (1984-88) for 10th all-time.

Immediate Impact

UL welcomed nine new players to the 2008-09 roster and a pair of newcomers have made an immediate impact for the Ragin’ Cajuns – Alexis Green and Mercedes Johnson. The duo rank No. 1/No. 2 in points, free throw attempts, free throws made, rebounds and rebounding average. The tandem also rank in the Top 5 in field goal percentage, three-point percentage, free throw percentage, scoring average, field goal attempts, three-pointers made, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds and minutes played. Johnson currently leads the team in steals and blocked shots.

Besting the Boot

The Cajuns finished the 2007-08 season with a 5-4 record against teams from the state of Louisiana. In fact, UL has not had a losing record against state schools since the 2002-03 season. The Ragin’ Cajuns recorded two victories over New Orleans and also had wins against LSU-Shreveport, Centenary and Nicholls State. UL is slated for seven games against schools from the Pelican State in 2008-09, with an exhibition game against LSU-Shreveport. During the 2008-09 season, the Ragin’ Cajuns will play eight games against teams from Louisiana.

Don’t Forget Your Roster

In 2008-09, the Ragin’ Cajuns women’s basketball team welcomes nine new players to the team, including seven high school prospects and two junior college transfers. The Cajuns brought in five guards along with four post players. The guards include Michelle Brunker (San Diego, Calif. – The Bishop’s School), Jamie Gunter (Columbus, Miss. – Columbus High School), Becky Hall (Iowa, La. – Lacassine High School), Nicole Morris (Cypress, Texas – Cy-Fair High School), and Krystal Motley. The front court includes Alexis Green (Dallas, Texas – Dallas Skyline High School/Blinn Junior College), Mercedes Johnson (Houston, Texas – Langham Creek High School), Amy Richard (Opelousas, La. – Rosary High School/Fullerton Junior College), and Keionna Ross (New Orleans, La. – Port Allen). Another name that might be unfamiliar is Jessica Sigue (New Iberia, La. – New Iberia Senior High). She did not join the Cajuns’ squad until late in the 2007-08 season.


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