PRESS RELEASE
LAFAYETTE – On a special day, which began with a celebration of cancer survivors, Louisiana Women’s Basketball (7-18, 5-6 SBC) could not hold off a late charge from the Texas State Bobcats (13-14, 8-7 SBC) falling in a Sun Belt Conference matchup, 71-65, in what was the Annual Pink Game, Saturday afternoon at the CAJUNDOME.
Freshman guard Brandi Williams finished with 22 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field, while also grabbing seven rebounds, both team highs. And Sophomore center Ty’Reona Docuet, once again coming off the bench, added 13 points and seven rebounds in what was a losing effort for Louisiana.
What hurt Louisiana during the game and down the stretch was the performance of Texas State’s Toshua Leavitt, who finished with 28 points the most scored against Louisiana this season by a single opponent.
HOW IT HAPPENED (First Half): The first quarter was a low-scoring back and forth affair, but over the first three minutes the Bobcats did take a five-point lead, 7-2, to attempt to pull away early. But Louisiana answered and over the final five minutes of the quarter the Ragin’ Cajuns cut into and eventually took the lead from Texas State.
In the final second of the period, freshman guard Diamond Morrison was fouled with the score tied at 11-11. Morrison converted one of two from the line and it gave Louisiana a 12-11 lead after the first quarter.
Louisiana quickly pushed its lead to six points during the first two minutes of the second quarter, and after a three-point basket from freshman guard Andrea Cournoyer put Louisiana up 19-13. Three minutes later, with Texas State looking to work its way back into the game, another three-point basket from Cournoyer at the 5:42 mark of the quarter gave Louisiana a game-high eight-point lead with the score sitting at 23-15.
Texas State would go on a run 7-2 run starting with two minutes remaining in the half, but Louisiana held onto its lead and a three-point basket from Williams with 11 seconds left gave Louisiana a 34-29 lead into the half.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Second Half): Over the first five minutes of the third quarter, Texas State slowly cut into Louisiana’s lead, but the Ragin’ Cajuns held the lead until the 3:59 mark of the period when Ja’Kayla Bowie hit a layup to put Texas State in the lead, 43-42. That lead was earned by a 10-0 run by Texas State, with Leavitt scoring six of the 10 points nailing two three-point baskets during the stretch, but Louisiana was ready to respond.
Over the final three minutes of the period, Louisiana would go on an 8-0 run of its own to take back the lead, powered by Williams scoring the final four points of the run to give Louisiana a 50-48 lead heading into the final quarter.
Texas State slowly began to build a lead over the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, despite Louisiana’s best efforts to stay within reach of the Bobcats, Texas State would build a six-point lead at the 5:46 mark of the quarter and score sitting at 60-54. Louisiana would not give up the fight and although Texas State had stretched its lead to seven points, 64-57, the Ragin’ Cajuns began to try and reel back the Bobcats starting with a quick 5-0 run sparked by Williams’ three-point basket at the 1:46 mark.
Doucet’s layup with 41 seconds left made it 64-62, but that would be the closest that Louisiana would get to the Bobcats as Texas State would convert its free throws down the stretch to come away with a 71-65 win.
GAME NOTES: Williams’ 22 points is the fifth time this season that Williams has scored at least 20 points in a game … This was the second straight game that Doucet has come off the bench to give Louisiana double-digit scoring … Louisiana finished with 12 assists, the fourth straight game that Louisiana has finished with at least 10 assists in a game.
UP NEXT FOR THE CAJUNS: Louisiana returns to the road with the Carolina swing, starting with a trip to Coastal Carolina on Thursday, Feb. 28 before wrapping up the trip at Appalachian State on Mar. 2 for the final road trip of the season.
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.