Louisiana Welcomes Auburn to the Cajundome
After a three-overtime marathon win in the I-10 rivalry, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns women's basketball team returns to the court to host the SEC's Auburn Tigers in a Friday night match up at the Cajundome with tip scheduled for 7 p.m.
CAJUNS VS. THE SEC: It's the first time the Cajuns have hosted an SEC opponent since welcoming the then ranked No. 20 Mississippi State Bulldogs on Dec. 17, 2014. And it's only the second time the Cajuns have played the Tigers, with Auburn holding a 0-1 record over the Cajuns having won that match up, 65-55, on Dec. 17, 2005 in Auburn, Ala. Louisiana, all-time, is 8-38 against the SEC, with their last game against an SEC opponent being on Nov. 27, 2015, vs. Arkansas, a 67-59 Cajuns win, at the San Juan Shootout in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
IT TAKES THREE: In the Cajuns last game, an epic triple overtime game against McNeese, Louisiana outlasted the Cowgirls 98-86, in the school's first triple overtime game in history. The win, Louisiana's third straight over the Cowgirls going back to 2015, snapped a two-game losing streak for the Cajuns.
In the game, senior Simone Fields had the best game she's had this season leading the Cajuns in scoring finishing with 25 points and seven rebounds. Fields was perfect from the field through the first half and she ended the game shooting 71 percent on 10 for 14 from the field as she logged 41 minutes. Joining Fields in scoring 20 points, was fellow senior Kendra Howard (20 points and a team leading eight rebounds) and freshman Skyler Goodwin who poured in a career high 24 points and six steals.
SKY HIGH: On top of scoring a career high 24 points and recording another career high in steals (six), Goodwin put in quite the day's work playing every minute of the game not wanting to come out at all through the entire three overtime contest.
It's just a microcosm of what Goodwin has done for the Cajuns through the first month of the season, playing the point guard position which isn't her natural position, and doing it as a freshman playing in some tough environments.
She's grown into the position and as the Cajuns turn the corner at the end of the month into conference play and they return some of their injured players, Goodwin will give the Cajuns depth and experience in the backcourt that should help them navigate the Sun Belt Conference.
MO IS BACK: It's been a rough first month of the season for Fields, but she came out on fire, going a perfect in the first half (4 for 4) against McNeese and she led the Cajuns in scoring with 25 points (10 for 14) which is a season high for the 2017-18 season. She played the game with a bit of anger about her, snagging rebounds(seven) with no fear and making sure the Cajuns stayed strong through the long grueling game.
WHAT THE TIGERS BRING: Auburn enters the game with a 5-3 record, and they've won their past two games. They beat ULM on Nov. 29 at home, 67-41, before heading north to Bloomington, Ind., where they faced off against the Indiana Hoosiers.
The Tigers won that game, 65-53, and they were led in scoring with two women finishing in double digits. Daisa Alexander put in 25 points on 9 for 14 shooting, while Janiah McKay finished right behind her with 22 points on 8 for 15 shooting while recording six assists and six steals to help lead the Tigers to a big road win.
Through the first month of the season, McKay is leading the Tigers in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game, while Alexander is right behind her with 13.4 points per game. Unique Thompson is leading the Tigers in rebounds, averaging 9.0 boards per game, and with her 9.7 points per game she just south of averaging a double-double after one month of play.
As a team, Auburn is averaging 60.2 points per game, shooting 39 percent from the field while averaging 36.1 rebounds per game and 11.4 assists per game. But it's their defense that's been impressive. They've allowed their opponents only 52.1 points per game and that number is up near the top in the NCAA. It gives them the seventh best scoring defense in the nation and their 116 steals (14.5 per game) ranks them sixth in the country, meaning the Tigers are a tough team to crack.
WATCH/LISTEN TO THE CAJUNS: The game will be streamed on the Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network for free, with Dan McDonald on the call. While on the radio, ESPN 1420 will air the game and Steve Peloquin will be handling the play-by-play duties.
CLEAR BAG POLICY/PARKING/TICKETS: In the interest of public safety and following the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) Best Practices Guide, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Athletics Department is implementing a clear bag policy at all venues that host ticketed or non-ticketed events effective with the 2017-18 competition season. Information about this new policy can be found by visiting www.RaginCajuns.com/clearbag.
As for parking, it's free to park anywhere around the Cajundome for the game on Friday night, and tickets are all general admission pricing.
LOUISIANA AC
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