LAFAYETTE – Led by sophomore center Ty’Reona Doucet’s eighth double-double of the season, and a strong defensive team performance, Louisiana Women’s Basketball (5-11, 3-2 SBC) won its third straight game, taking down the ULM Warhawks (7-9, 1-4 SBC), 52-45, in a Saturday afternoon dogfight at the CAJUNDOME.
Doucet finished with a team-high 12 points and 10 rebounds, recording her first double-double in Sun Belt Conference play, while freshman guard Brandi Williams tied Doucet’s point total, finishing with 12 points. Freshman guard Andrea Cournoyer added 11 points to give Louisiana three scorers in double-figures on the day.
The win, the ninth straight against ULM for Louisiana, was a defensive showcase by the Ragin’ Cajuns, the 45 points is the lowest total given up by Louisiana this season and the 8.3 percent defensive three-point field percentage is the best defensive performance from Louisiana in conference play since holding Texas State to 8.3 percent from beyond the arc on Mar. 3, 2017.
HOW IT HAPPENED (First Half): Both sides struggled to score through the first quarter, with ULM’s Arsula Clark getting the first two baskets of the game, hitting back-to-back layups over the first three minutes to give ULM a quick 4-0 lead. But two visits to the free throw line by Williams and Cournoyer quickly tied things up at four-all and with five minutes to go in the quarter it was tied up.
ULM attempted to pull away over the next two minutes, taking a 10-4 lead with two minutes to go in the period. But a big three-point basket from Cournoyer put an end to that run, and over the final two minutes Louisiana would score five out of the final seven points scored to sit only three points behind ULM, with the score at 12-9 heading into the second quarter.
Louisiana and ULM traded leads over the first six minutes of the quarter, with a three-point basket with six minutes to go in the half, giving Louisiana a 16-15 lead. But ULM responded and Clark once again matters into her own hands, and she hit back-to-back layups to give ULM a 21-18 lead with just under two minutes to go.
Doucet and Williams gave Louisiana the needed spark over the final two minutes, as Doucet hit a layup, followed shortly by Williams hitting a three-point basket with just six seconds to go in the half to give Louisiana a 23-21 lead heading into the break.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Second Half): Louisiana came out of the locker room hitting on all cylinders, and the Ragin’ Cajuns quickly went on a 5-0 run over the first two minutes of the period, led by Williams converting an old fashioned three-point play to start the half. Over the next three minutes, every basket from ULM was answered by Louisiana and when things rolled past the midway point of the quarter, Louisiana was leading 32-38.
ULM’s Diamond Brooks hit a layup and nailed one free throw a minute later to pull ULM within three points, 32-29, at the 2:18 mark of the quarter. But Louisiana once again had all the answers, and an 8-2 run down the final two minutes pushed Louisiana’s lead to nine points. The run was powered by freshman forward Jazmyn Womack’s three-point basket and buzzer beating floater and when the period came to an end Louisiana lead 40-31.
One final effort from ULM, which saw the Warhawks cut Louisiana’s lead to 41-38 over the first minute of the fourth quarter, was quickly ended by Louisiana’s defense coming up big over a three-and-a-half-minute stretch that started at the 7:32 mark following Doucet’s layup. During that three-and-a-half-minute stretch, Louisiana made three big stops and did not allow the Warhawks to score, and a layup from junior forward Kendall Bess, at the 3:55 mark, meant that Louisiana lead 45-38 with just over four minutes to play.
Over the final two minutes, any basket from ULM was quickly answered by Louisiana as the lead was maintained by strong team defense, and with a pair of free throws by Williams, with seven seconds left, Louisiana wrapped up its third straight win, coming away with a 52-45 victory.
GAME NOTES: Doucet’s double-double was her eighth of the season, and the first since recording one at Ole Miss on Dec. 12, 2018; This was the second straight game for both Williams and Cournoyer finishing in double-figure scoring.
Louisiana held ULM to a field goal percentage of 28 percent which is the lowest number Louisiana has held an opponent to this season and the lowest since holding Georgia Southern to 25 percent on Feb. 10, 2018; With a minimum of 15 attempts, Louisiana’s defensive performance of holding ULM to 8.3 three-point field goal percentage was the best defensive performance since holding Southeastern La., to 5.6 percent three-point field goal percentage on Feb. 5, 2010.
UP NEXT FOR THE CAJUNS: Louisiana hits the road for the first time since opening conference play in Arkansas, with the Alabama swing. The Ragin’ Cajuns will begin the trip with an 11:05 a.m. tip at South Alabama on Thursday, Jan. 24. Louisiana will then wrap things up in Troy with a Saturday afternoon tip of 2 p.m. on Jan. 26.
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE: Both season tickets and individual game tickets for Louisiana Women’s Basketball are available for purchase by either heading to ragincajuns.com/tickets or by calling the Louisiana Athletics Ticket Office at the CAJUNDOME, (337) 265-2357, or by visiting the office in person.
FOLLOWING THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS: Follow the Ragin’ Cajuns on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@RaginCajunsWBB) to stay up-to-date with Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Women’s Basketball.
