The first eight minutes of Wednesday's game at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro, Ark., helped Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team build a double-figure lead. The next 20 minutes cost the team the chance at a three-game win streak and instead led to a 67-56 loss to Arkansas State.

The Ragin' Cajuns (8-13, 3-6 Sun Belt) shot 10-of-15 (67%) and committed only three turnovers to build a 24-13 lead over the Red Wolves (8-12, 3-6 Sun Belt) in the first eight minutes.

Over the next 20 minutes, Louisiana shot 7-of-23 (30%) and committed 14 turnovers and as a result gradually lost their advantage which was a large as 17 points with six minutes left in the first half.

Mercedes Johnson led the Cajuns with 19 points. Alexis Green (13) and Nicole Morris (12) joined her in double figures.

The Red Wolves were paced by Sherina Scott's 19 points on eight field goal makes.

The Cajuns came out hitting on all cylinders, making their first four field goal attempts - three from Johnson - for an 8-6 advantage in the first two minutes.

Scott scored three early buckets for the Red Wolves helping them keep pace. Her basket at 17:17 forged an 8-all tie.

Green returned the lead to Louisiana with a jumper on the left wing at 17:00 and then she made a pair of freebies at 14:12 which capped off an 11-1 UL run that created the first double-figure lead, 19-9.

An ASU turnover and missed shot led to back-to-back baskets by Jasmine Barnes at 13:15 and 12:53 that increased the Cajuns advantage to 24-11.

UL held the Red Wolves without a field goal make from 10:49 through 4:04 and used a 9-3 run to grab a 33-18 lead.

ASU ended the half on a 10-2 run that cut the UL lead to 35-28 at the end of the opening frame.

Morris opened the second half with a triple at 19:41 to return the Cajuns lead to double figures.

Just like the opening minutes of the first half, Scott provided the scoring punch for the Red Wolves by scoring three of the hosts' first four second half buckets. Her layup at 16:34 dropped the UL lead to 40-36.

When Ebonie Jefferson drove baseline, made a layup and complete the three-point play with 11:41 left to play the Red Wolves grabbed a 47-44 lead, closing off a 31-11 run that began at 5:37 of the first half.

Louisiana would pull into a 47-all tie with 10:49 on the clock, but six unanswered points returned the lead to ASU for the remainder of the evening.

The Red Wolves iced the game when up 61-56 they grabbed three offensive rebounds after missed free throws to extend the lead to 65-56.

The Ragin' Cajuns finish off their two-game road trip on Saturday, Jan. 30 in Monroe against the Warhawks. Game time is 2 p.m.

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