UL Women Drop Heartbreaker To Troy, 60-55

UL freshman center Simone Fields

Louisiana's Ragin Cajun women's basketball team  fell in Sun Belt Conference action on Saturday, dropping a 60-55 decision to the Troy Trojans at the Cajundome.

Louisiana trailed, 46-27, with 13:22 remaining, before going on a 25-6 run over the next 10:16, to tie the game, 52-52, with 3:06 to go, prior to Troy nailing a couple of clutch three-pointers down the stretch, escaping with the win.

The Cajuns didn't shoot well in the first-half, and the Trojans made them pay, taking a 33-22 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Troy out-shot Louisiana from the field over the first 20:00, 46%-24%, while holding down a 24-22 rebounding edge.

Aissata Maiga led the way for the Trojans in the opening half, scoring 9 points, while Jaylin Gordon paced the Cajuns with 8 points.

Louisiana began the second half scoring four of the fist six points, cutting the Troy lead to 35-26 at the 17:24 mark, before the Trojans scored 11 of the next 12 points, to extend their lead to a game-high 19 points, 46-27, with 13:22 to go.

That's when the Cajuns turned it up a notch, and after Robbie Brown converted two free throws, a 25-6 UL run over a 10:16 time-span helped them to tie the game, 52-52, with 3:06 left.

After both teams failed to capitalize on multiple possessions, Troy's Rachel Reid drained a three-pointer at the :43 mark, giving the Trojans a 55-52 lead.

Louisiana answered right back, when Brown nailed a three-pointer of her own, evening the game once more, 55-55, with :31 remaining.

Six seconds later, Reid came up big once more for the Trojans, putting home another three-point basket, giving them a 58-55 advantage with :25 left.

A UL turnover allowed Troy to ice the game at the free throw line, and after Ashley Beverly-Kelley hit two free throws with :08 left, the Trojans were able to leave with the 5-point victory.

The Trojans ended the game out-shooting the Cajuns from the field, 42%-29%, while finishing with a 43-41 rebounding edge.

Maiga led the way for Troy, with 14 points, while Ronita Garrett pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.

In a losing cause for Louisiana, Brown put home a game-high 16 points, while Kia Wilridge added 8 points, along with 6 rebounds.

View the game box score.

With the victory, the Trojans improved to 6-5, overall, and 1-1 in Sun Belt Conference play, while the Cajuns fell to 8-3, and 0-2, respectively.

Louisiana returns to action on Monday afternoon, when they hit the road to take on Appalachian St. in conference action.