The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns women’s team came into Sunday’s game looking for their eighth win of the season. The Cajuns came out out strong and finished strong with a 69-57 victory over the LA Tech Techsters.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Forward Tamera Johnson opened up the contest with a kiss off the glass layup on the Ragin’ Cajuns first possession. Tech’s Anna Larr Roberson came back, a minute later, with the offensive board and put-back layup to tie it at two. Diamond Morrison and Robyn Lee each splashed a three pointer for their team within 30 seconds of each other. Tech’s Salma Bates gave LA Tech their first lead with a made three assisted by Roberson, off the Makayia Hallmon turnover.
Louisiana regained the lead with back-to-back makes, first by Lanay Wheaton, then Hallmon. After Kate Thompson’s jumper gave the Techsters the one point lead, hit three straight buckets with over 90 seconds to go in the first quarter. LA Tech rallied with a quick three and free throw, but Caira Wren banked the buzzer-beater layup to give the Cajuns the 18-14 lead after 10 minutes of play.
Quarter two started slow as only one shot was made in the first three minutes as there were a ton of missed attempts by both sides. Bates scored the next five points to help her team regain the lead. Destiny Rice got herself involved after assisting Johnson on her made jumper, knocked down a couple from the charity stripe and put-back her own miss. Tech ended the half on a 7-3 run and was up 30-29.
The Cajuns came out firing on all cylinders to start the second half. Louisiana went on a 13-4 run, highlighted by a couple of Wheaton layups, followed by Ty Doucet converting on the and-one bucket and Rice hitting another layup off the Doucet steal. Silvia Nativi retaliated with her own made shot, but Johnson came back with her own the following possession.
After a tv timeout, the Techsters cut it to within five with a pair Roberson free throws jumper made by Jadona Davis and Keiunna Walker. The next few possessions got a little sloppy with a few turnovers on the Cajuns, but Wheaton and Hallmon helped make their lead be 52-42 after three quarters of play.
Louisiana broke the game up in the final period. Hallmon started it off with her third made basket of the game, Amaya Brannon responded with her first bucket, the Cajuns though, went on a 9-1 run to make their lead 18 with five minutes left.
Both teams went back-and-forth in the closing minutes. Walker made seven of her team’s last 12 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Cajuns defeated the Techsters 69-57.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Diamond Morrison
Morrison was red hot from three point range as she made for of her five attempts and lead the team with 14 points.
BIG NUMBER: 46
Louisiana as a team shot 46 percent from three point range, making six out of their 13 attempts.
NEXT UP: vs UT Arlington; Thursday, December 30th, Tipoff at 6:00.