UL Women Win Third-Straight, Defeat South Alabama, 65-58

UL junior guard Kia Wilridge

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajun women’s basketball team recorded a Sun Belt Conference home victory on Saturday, downing the South Alabama Jaguars, 65-58, at the Cajundome.

The win was the third-straight for Louisiana, who opened up a three-game homestand in the process.

South Alabama led the majority of the first half, jumping out to a 17-9 advantage at the 12:57 mark, before UL came back to grab their first lead of the game, 23-21, at the 5:23 mark.

Down 31-27 with 3:47 remaining in the half, the Jaguars went on to score 8 of the final 9 points of the first 20 minutes, to take a 35-32 lead into the locker room at halftime.

South Alabama out-shot Louisiana in the first half, 54%-40%, while holding down a 17-15 rebounding advantage.

Breanna Hall led the way for South Alabama in the first half, scoring 11 points, to go along with four rebounds, while Jaylin Gordon paced Louisiana with 9 points and three steals.

UL scored 13 of the first 19 points of the second half, to equal their biggest lead of the game, four points, 45-41 at the 13:43 mark, prior to extending that lead to seven points, 51-44, with 10:39 to go.

The Jaguars refused to go away, cutting the lead to 54-52 with 7:13 remaining, before the Cajuns opened up a 9-point lead, 64-55, with :21 to go, and then eventually went on to the 7-point win.

South Alabama finished the game out-shooting Louisiana from the floor, 45%-37%, but the Cajuns ended the game with a 40-31 rebounding edge, while forcing 21 turnovers.

Keke Veal and Gordon led the way for the Cajuns, finishing with 15 points apiece, while Kia Wilridge added 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals.

In a losing cause for the Jaguars, Hall and Rachel Cumbo each scored 14 points, while Chyna Ellis chipped in with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

View the game box score.

With the win, Louisiana improved to 11-4, overall, and 3-3 in Sun Belt Conference play, while South Alabama fell to 3-13, and 0-7, respectively.

The Cajuns return to action on Monday, when they host ULM as part of a day/night, women’s/men’s doubleheader at the Cajundome