The Ragin’ Cajuns women’s basketball team started off strong as they led by as many as 19 points, early in the second quarter. Georgia Southern made it a close game as momentum shifted often throughout the rest of the contest. It came down to the last second as Louisiana defeated the Eagles 56-54.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Destiny Rice got the game’s first bucket with a right wing three pointer with Makayia Hallmon recording the assist on the play. Ty Doucet hit her first shot from the elbow before Georgia Southern’s Maya Banks made her team’s first points at the 7:32 point of the quarter.
Louisiana made three straight shots in the back-half of the quarter to push their lead to double digits. Tamera Johnson made it a 14 point game late in the period with a corner three pointer as the Cajuns were 21-7 after the first 10 minutes of action.
The defense of the Cajuns stood strong the three and a half minutes of the second quarter as Georgia Southern only had a free throw. At the 6:11 mark Daeja Holmes got a run started for the Eagles with a successful three point attempt, followed by a layup by Taya Gibson and another three from Holmes before Louisiana Head Coach Garry Brodhead had to call a timeout.
Southern continued to put the pressure on the Cajuns as they cut their deficit down to three points with Holmes’ fifth three of the half as Louisiana only led 34-31.
Louisiana could buy a bucket to start the second half as Simone James tied the game with free throw then gave the Eagles their first lead of the game with a corner three.
It wouldn’t be until two minutes left in the third quarter when Louisiana temporarily regained the lead thanks to a Caira Wren layup, but Mya Burns take it right back for southern after she hit both shots from the charity stripe. The third period ended in a tie at 47 with a three from the Eagle’s Eden Johnson.
The final period was back-and-forth throughout most of it as the Cajuns would tie the game after the Eagles would try to take the lead. Doucet would give Louisiana the slight two point advantage with three and a half minutes to-go. Terren Ward cut it to one with a free throw, but the Cajun defense came up clutch the final minute as they held on to win 56-54.
BIG NUMBER: 19
Louisiana watched as an early 19 point lead disappear, but kept themselves in the game the whole way through as they get the two point in on Mardi Gras weekend.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tamera Johnson
Johnson had herself a double-double as she led the way in both scoring and rebounding with 16 points and 12 boards.
UP NEXT: Louisiana (16-6) will be in Pensacola for the Sun Belt Tournament starting March 2nd.