The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns women’s basketball team fell to the App State Mountaineers 61-52 on Thursday night in Boone, North Carolina. The loss knocks the Cajuns back to even .500 at 5-5 in Sun Belt play.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
App State shot the ball well right off the bat, making four of their first six field goals. They made two threes to help grab a 10-3 advantage.
The lead would get to 13-3 before the Cajuns pulled back and created a run of their own. By the end of the quarter, App led 16-8.
The Cajuns scored it well in the second quarter, and that allowed them to cut into the lead. Neither team was able to get to the free throw line often, as the officials were allowing plenty of contact. Nubia Benedith helped Louisiana cut the lead to five, as it was 31-26 at the break.
Louisiana made a charge in the third, and finally took their first lead at 37-36. Benedith continued to lead the charge. However, App State created a 7-0 run to finish the quarter after that. After three, the Mountaineers led 43-37.
The Cajuns tried to cut into the lead but struggled to consistently score against the App State defense. Eleyana Tafisi paced the Mountaineers offense and they also began to run clock. Eventually, Louisiana ran out of time in their comeback effort, falling 61-52.
BIG NUMBER: 25
The Mountaineers created 25 points off turnovers, which was critical in this game. It created easy transition opportunities at times and ultimately may have been the difference.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Eleyana Tafisi
Tafisi ran the show and tied for the Mountaineer team lead with 13 points. She also contributed four assists in the victory.
UP NEXT: The Cajuns will travel to Conway to face Coastal Carolina on the road on Saturday afternoon at noon.