The Ragin Cajuns women’s basketball team brought the fight to the UT Alrington Mavericks until the final horn on the way to a 59-53 win in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
The Cajuns got started on the right foot in the first quarter, going up 7-0 early, but the Mavs cut away at the lead throughout the opening quarter, getting it tied up twice, but the Cajuns held onto a 13-9 at the end of the first quarter.
The back and forth between the two teams continued into the second quarter, but the Cajuns continued to hang onto the lead, but it was a lot more dicey heading into the locker room at the half as they led 23-22 over the Mavs.
The Mavs wasted no time getting the lead in the second half with solid shooting in the opening two minutes of the third quarter. UT Arlington took advantage of the Cajuns shooting problems to take a five point lead into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter of this matchup was another example of how tenacious this women’s basketball team can be with a 10-0 run in the closing minutes to come away with the win to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Simone Fields led the Cajuns with 18 points, 15 of which came in the second half. She also racked up five boards and two assists on the night. Keke Veal was right behind her with 15 points, four boards, four assists, and three steals.
Cierra Johnson led UT Arlington with 13 points and two boards on the night.
The Cajuns will now take on the Little Rock Trojans in the semifinals of the tournament with tipoff set for 2 pm.
-Clint Domingue