UL sophomore guard Sylvana Okde

 

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns women’s basketball team opened up Sun Belt Conference play on Saturday, defeating the ULM Warhawks, 68-49, in Monroe, Louisiana.

Louisiana led at halftime, 30-28, as Sylvana Okde hit four three-pointers, and scored 14 first half points.

ULM out-shot Louisiana from the floor in the first half, 32%-31%, and finished the half with a 20-18 rebound advantage, but the Cajuns forced 11 turnovers in the opening half, and led by Okde, made five first half three-pointers, compared to only two for the Warhawks.

At the beginning of the second half, the Cajuns scored eight of the first ten points, extending their lead to 38-30, at the 15:56 mark.

Louisiana then went on a 23-10 run over the next 7:54, extending that lead to 61-40 at the 8:02 mark.

That proved to be the run that put the game away, as the Cajuns went on to outscore the Warhawks, 38-21, in the second half, to coast to the 19-point victory.

Both teams finished the game shooting 35% from the floor, but the Cajuns forced 19 turnovers, while only tuning it over nine time themselves.

Okde led the way for UL, scoring a game-high 23 points, while Kia Wilridge scored 14, and Keke Veal added 13.

In a losing cause for ULM,  Jasmine Shaw scored 14 points.

With the victory, Louisiana improved to 8-5 overall, and 1-0 in Sun Belt Conference play, while ULM dropped to 4-9 overall, and 0-1 in league play.

The Cajuns return to action on Wednesday night, when they host Texas St. in Sun Belt Conference play at the Cajundome.

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