The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns women’s basketball team defeated Arkansas State 54-41 in the second round of the Sun Belt Championship in the Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Florida. The victory moves Louisiana to the quarterfinals, where they will face Troy on Friday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Red Wolves top scorer Izzy Higginbottom was a game-time decision going in but was unable to play. Louisiana got off to a great start, putting together an 8-2 run with baskets from three players including two from Tamera Johnson. That gave them an 8-2 advantage at the first media timeout.
After making it 10-2, the Red Wolves responded with a 7-0 run sparked by a three from Mailyn Wilkerson. That made it 10-9, but Louisiana again responded with an 8-0 run of their own to end the quarter up 18-9.
The second quarter was sluggish on the offensive end for both teams, as a switch to zone defense helped Arkansas State limit Louisiana. That gave the Red Wolves the opportunity to create a 7-0 run, cutting the lead to 18-16. For the second time in the half, however, Louisiana answered a 7-0 run with an 8-0 stretch of their own with Ashlyn Jones contributing the final three points. That gave Louisiana a 26-16 halftime lead.
The second half began with the Cajuns scoring four quick points to take their largest lead of the game at 30-16. The Red Wolves responded with five straight of their own, as Anna Griffin started to increase her offensive involvement. From there, the teams traded buckets for the remainder of the quarter. That is, until the Cajuns made a run at the very end. It was capped by a very deep three from Brandi Williams, which gave Louisiana a 42-23 lead heading into the fourth.
After the Cajuns scored the first two of the fourth, Arkansas State responded with six straight and called a quick timeout. The Red Wolves got the lead down to 10 at 45-35, but that is as close as they got. The Cajuns protected the ball and did a good job at the free throw line down the stretch, specifically Jones, who made six of eight on the night. The Cajuns held on for a 54-41 victory.
BIG NUMBER: 41
Louisiana held Arkansas State 26 points below their season average at just 41. That defensive effort proved to be the difference in a big win that keeps the Cajuns’ season going.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tamera Johnson
Tamera scored 14 points to lead the way on the offensive end. She also secured six rebounds and contributed an assist as well.
UP NEXT: Louisiana will face the #2 seed Troy Trojans on Friday night at 7:30 in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Tournament in Pensacola.