Home, sweet, home.
The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns women’s basketball team defeated Texas State 66-64 in their first game back the Cajundome for the first time in 52 days.
Louisiana guard Slyer Goodwin’s late free throws gave Louisiana their 6th win of the season.
Louisiana is now 6-5 for the season and 5-1 in the Sun Belt Conference.
How It Happened:
Louisiana opened the game with the first four points of the contest. Ty Doucet and Kimberly Burton scored two consecutive field goals in the paint.
Texas State responded with a 9-0 run as Avionne Alexander game the Bobcats a 9-4 lead with 4:24 left in the first quarter.
The scoring slowed down for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Louisiana scored just four points the rest of the quarter after scoring four in the first 53 seconds.
The Bobcats led 13-8 entering the second quarter.
The Bobcats built on their lead in the early part of the second. Texas State led 23-15 with 5:44 left after Jomyra Mathis went 1-for-2 at the free throw line.
Skyler Goodwin cut the deficit to six points with a made jumper after a Bobcats turnover. Mathis was fouled on a 3-point attempt. She went 3-for-3 from the line as Texas State then led 23-20 with 4:31 left.
Louisiana tied the game at 23 with a 3-pointer by Brandi Williams.
Texas State went on a 6-0 run after the game was tied and entered the halftime break up 33-28.
The Bobcats maintained control through most of the third quarter. They led 39-32 with 6:32 remaining in the third quarter.
The Ragin’ Cajuns cut it down to just one with 3:43 left. Doucet’s layup moved Louisiana to within one.
Louisiana and Texas State entered the final quarter tied at 46. The Ragin’ Cajuns climbed back from a 7-point deficit in the third. Alexandria Goodly tied the game for the Ragin’ Cajuns with a 3-pointer with 14 seconds left.
Louisiana took a 52-50 lead with 7:40 left in the game behind a Goodwin fast break bucket. It was the first lead for the Ragin’ Cajuns lead since they led 4-2 in the first quarter.
The team exchanged field goals for the next four minutes. Texas State led 62-59, but Goodly nailed another 3-pointer for Louisiana to tie the game with 3:07 left.
With the game tied at 64-64 and 34.7 seconds left, Texas State turned the ball over. The Ragin’ Cajuns took a timeout in the half court with 18 seconds left.
Goodwin stepped to the line with 2.5 seconds left and earned the 66-64 win for Louisiana.
Big Number: 26
The Ragin’ Cajuns second unit came to play against the Bobcats. They outscored the Bobcats bench 26-4 in the win.
Player of the Game: Skyler Goodwin
Goodwin converted both free throws with 2.5 second left and propelled Louisiana to their 6th win. She shot 4-of-7 from the field for 13 points. Goodwin also grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists.
Up Next: At home against Texas State, Saturday Jan. 30; Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.