Press Release
OXFORD, Miss. – Sophomore center Ty’Reona Doucet recorded her seventh double-double of the season, but it was not enough to power Louisiana Women’s Basketball (2-7) to a big road win, as the Ragin’ Cajuns lost to the Ole Miss Rebels (5-6), 79-57, at The Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss.
Doucet finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds, both team and game highs, while freshman Brandi Williams dropped 14 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the field to lead Louisiana in scoring. But a tough second quarter, where Ole Miss outscored Louisiana 25-5 was the difference in the game as Louisiana dropped its fifth-straight game.
HOW IT HAPPENED (First Half): Louisiana started out strong defensively, and over the first three minutes of the game the Ragin’ Cajuns kept Ole Miss off the board, and in the process, Louisiana took a 4-0 lead hitting the first two baskets of the game. Down the stretch in the quarter both teams traded leads and with two minutes left a layup from Ole Miss’ Mimi Reid tied things up at 11-11 and that score would carry into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, Ole Miss created the space that would become the difference in the game, beginning the quarter on a 6-0 run. Doucet hit a layup at the 7:34 mark of the quarter to end the run and put the score at 17-13.
But Ole Miss would control the remainder of the quarter, as Louisiana would not score again until the 4:22 point in the quarter when Williams hit a driving layup. When the quarter came to an end the Rebels had outscored Louisiana 25-5 and they took a 36-16 lead into the break.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Second Half): Ole Miss would continue to score the basketball, taking a game-high 29-point lead at the 6:14 point of the quarter when Cecilia Muhate nailed a jump shot to put the score at 47-18. Louisiana did answer, cutting into the lead, even getting it under 20 points with 1:32 left in the quarter following a basket and converted free throw by junior forward Kendall Bess.
Ole Miss did push the lead back over 20 points over the final minute of the quarter, taking a 59-37 lead into the final quarter. Through the final quarter, Louisiana played strong and despite Ole Miss pushing it to a 26-point lead with 6:35 to go in the game, the Ragin’ Cajuns did not give up.
Freshman guard Andrea Cournoyer got her hands in on Mimi Reid’s dribble, poking the ball away and hitting a fast break layup with 5:50 to go in the game to make it 73-51. Cournoyer’s play sparked a quick 8-2 run by Louisiana as they cut things to 75-57 with 2:46 to go in the game.
But that would be the end of Louisiana’s scoring in the game, as Ole Miss would add four points to their lead over the final two minutes to come away with the 79-57.
GAME NOTES: Doucet recorded her seventh double-double of the season, which ties her for the second-most double-doubles by anyone in the NCAA; Cournoyer finished with 10 points for the third time in the last five games; Freshman guard Diamond Morrison finished with a career-high seven assists; Louisiana recorded 18 assists which are the most assists the Ragin’ Cajuns have had in a game this season and the most in a regulation game since recorded 18 at Georgia State on Feb. 8, 2018.
UP NEXT FOR THE CAJUNS: Louisiana returns to Lafayette, when they host Xavier (La.) on Saturday, Dec. 15, in an exhibition game. The game is scheduled to tip at 2 p.m. and will be broadcast live on COX Sports TV with Dan McDonald and Lawana Stokes handling the call. Steve Peloquin will handle the radio call on ESPN1420 for Louisiana’s late afternoon matchup.
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.