The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Basketball team hosts LSU-Shreveport on Tuesday, December 19 in the annual Education Game at the Cajundome, scheduled for an 11:00 a.m. tipoff. Nearly 3,000 Acadiana-area students are expected to be in attendance for the field trip outing.
The Ragin' Cajuns are welcoming students from elementary, middle school, and high school classes for the once-a-season field trip event. Those in attendance receive a t-shirt, activity pack, and a discounted meal deal for $8 that includes a hot dog, fries, and drink.
Louisiana (3-5) is playing the third game of its month-ending, four-game holiday homestand, a stretch which began with games against Lamar (Dec. 13) and North Texas (Dec. 17) last week.
It's also the last outing prior to a 10-day Christmas holiday break and the last non-conference game prior to Sun Belt Conference play beginning on December 30 at the Cajundome vs. App State.
Admission to the game – and all UL Women's Basketball games throughout the entire season – is free and open to the public.
The Cajuns-Pilots matchup will be streamed live on ESPN+ and can be heard in the Acadiana region on The GOAT 103.3 FM and 1420 AM and worldwide on the Varsity Network.
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Tuesday morning's outing marks the 10th edition of the annual Education Game, a tradition started in December 2014. The Ragin' Cajuns own a 5-4 overall record in the contest, having won the previous three editions.
It's the third straight year that LSU Shreveport (8-2) provides the opposition for the event. UL captured commanding victories in 2021 (W, 90-45) and 2022 (W, 72-40).
UL closes out a busy four-game stretch over a nine-day period with the LSU-S outing. The stretch began Sunday, December 10 at No. 7 LSU and when the current homestand opened with the Lamar and UNT games.
Tamera Johnson at 13.3 points per game and Brandi Williams at 12.0 points per game have charged the Cajuns offense thus far. Johnson is the top rebounder with 65 total at a rate of 8.1 per game, while Williams has already knocked down 17 triples.
Third-year starting point guard Destiny Rice is averaging near nine points per game on 44 percent shooting and Utah State transfer Tamiah Robinson leads with 18 assists and is second in rebounds (34).
LSU Shreveport has won its last six games dating back to Nov. 17, the latest a 62-48 win last Saturday at Huston-Tillotson sparked by Destanee Roblow's 19-point, 12-rebound double-double. For the season, the Pilots are led by Roblow's 12.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
GAME INFORMATION
LOUISIANA (3-5, 0-0 SBC) vs. LSU SHREVEPORT (8-2, 4-0 RRAC)
Date / Time: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 / 11:00 a.m.
Site: Lafayette, La.
Arena: Cajundome (12,362)
RADIO/TV
Radio: The GOAT 103.3 FM/1420 AM
Talent: Dawson Eiserloh (PxP)
TV: ESPN+
Talent: Dan McDonald (PxP), Scott Brazda (analyst)
LIVE STATS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Live Stats: CajunStats.com
Twitter Updates: @RaginCajunsWBB | #GeauxCajuns
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Louisiana leads, 6-1
In Lafayette: Louisiana leads, 6-1
In Shreveport: n/a
At Neutral Sites: n/a
Streak: Louisiana, +3
Last Meeting: Louisiana, 72-40 (11/29/22 at Lafayette, La.)
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Series Notables
- Two programs are meeting for the eighth (8th) time in a regular season game; fourth (4th) regular season matchup in the Garry Brodhead era (2012-present).
- Third straight season matching up in Louisiana's Education Game at the Cajundome.
- Paired up in an exhibition setting for Louisiana in the 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2018-19 seasons.
- UL has held LSU-S below 50 all meetings in Brodhead era, with an average margin of victory of 39 points.
- Cajuns largest margin of victory (45 points) occurred in the 2021 Education Game (W, 90-45).
THE COACHES
LOUISIANA
Head Coach: Garry Brodhead (Louisiana, 1980)
Record at Louisiana: 188-156 (12th season), Career Record: Same
LSU SHREVEPORT
Acting Head Coach: Kirsten Fellows (LSU-Shreveport, 2020)
Record at LSU-Shreveport: –, Career Record: –
STORY LINES
• The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Women's Basketball team holds its 10th annual Education Game on Tuesday, December 19, taking on LSU Shreveport with upwards to 3,000 Acadiana-area students expected in attendance for the field trip day outing.
• It's game No. 3 of the Cajuns' month-ending, four-game holiday homestand which began last Wednesday (Dec. 13) vs. Lamar.
• The LSU-S contest marks Louisiana's final non-conference game prior to the start of Sun Belt Conference play on December 30 when the current homestand concludes with a 1:00 p.m. contest against App State.
• Following Tuesday's game, UL enjoys a 10-day break for the Christmas holiday prior to the SBC opener.
• It's the third consecutive season the Cajuns and Pilots meet in the Education Game at the Cajundome.
• The Cajuns own a 5-4 overall mark in the Education Game, having won the previous three editions.
• Louisiana sets out to break a season-high, three-game losing streak and grab its first win on the current homestand after losses to Lamar and North Texas.
• Louisiana plays inside the state's borders throughout December, continuing a trend in which 11 of the 12 playing dates (including exhibitions) prior to New Year's Day all occur in the Pelican State.
QUICK HITS
• Tamera Johnson scored double digits in points each of the first seven games, having led her to a team-best 13.3 points per game. She has two double-doubles to her credit (vs. Nicholls; at New Orleans).
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• Brandi Williams has converted 71 percent of her field goal makes from three-point range (17 of 24 total FGM).
• Tamera Johnson and Brandi Williams are fueling the Cajuns' efforts, averaging a combined 25.3 points.
• Lanay Wheaton's 10 points in 11 minutes vs. North Texas was her top performance since returning to play.
• Tamiah Robinson's three first-quarter treys vs. UNT led UL to a second straight game with six long-range scores.
• Lanay Wheaton was selected as a second team member on the 2023-24 Preseason All-Sun Belt team – her second straight preseason nod.
• Louisiana, three games away from a title last season, was picked sixth (6th) in the Sun Belt coaches poll.
• UL is receiving an added boost on offense with the return of 1,000-point career scorer, and three-point threat, Brandi Williams (missed all but four games the past two seasons with injury).
• Third-year starting point guard Destiny Rice tallied 50-plus assists and 200-plus points the previous two seasons and entered 2023-24 as the top free throw shooter (147 makes at 72 percent) during the time frame.
• Head coach Garry Brodhead, the lone coach in program history to reach 100 wins, is presently 12 wins away from recording his 200th win at Louisiana.
UP NEXT FOR LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns have a 10-day break from play for the Christmas holiday, then return to the Cajundome on Saturday, December 30 to complete their current homestand and begin Sun Belt Conference play vs. App State.
The SBC opener with the Mountaineers tips at 1:00 p.m. It's the third straight season that Louisiana kicks off conference play at home.
Following the App State contest, the Cajuns tackle their longest road stretch of the season – a two-week, four-game SBC trek that takes the squad to Old Dominion and James Madison from January 4-6 followed by trips to Troy and Arkansas State from January 10-13.