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Slow Start Costs Ragin’ Cajuns Women’s Hoops At Appalachian State, Lost 83-69

Posted at 11:19 PM, Mar 02, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-03 00:27:41-05

BOONE, N.C. – A slow first half for Louisiana Women’s Basketball (7-20, 5-11 SBC) created a hole that the Ragin’ Cajuns could not climb out of as Louisiana fell, 83-69, at Appalachian State (15-12, 9-7 SBC) in a Saturday afternoon game at the Holmes Center.

 

Freshman guard Andrea Cournoyer led Louisiana in scoring with 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting from the field, while freshman guard Diamond Morrison (12 points) and junior forward Kendall Bess (11 points) gave Louisiana three scorers who finished in double figures.

 

Louisiana entered the half down 39-22, and despite the Ragin’ Cajuns coming back in the second half to outscore App State 47-44, the hole that was dug in the first half was to much for Louisiana to overcome.

 

HOW IT HAPPENED (First Half): Appalachian State jumped out to a quick 10-point after the first six minutes of the first quarter and had a 15-5 lead with four minutes to go in the period. But over the final three minutes of the period Louisiana would score six out of the final eight points scored in the quarter, with sophomore center Ty’Reona Doucet sparking the late push, to cut App State’s lead to under 10 points and the Mountaineers held a 19-11 lead after the first period of action.

 

During the second quarter App State would create a lead that Louisiana could not overcome, but over the first two and a half minutes Louisiana went tit-for-tat with App State keeping the score under 10 points. But starting with six minutes left in the period, App State would go on an 11-0 run to stretch the lead to 17 points, and when the period ended the Mountaineers lead 39-22 heading into the break.

 

HOW IT HAPPENED (Second Half): Louisiana attempted to cut into App State’s lead over the first three minutes of the third quarter, but the Mountaineers had responses for every Louisiana basket and when the clock hit 6:03 App State led 47-27. Back-to-back baskets from Morrison, including a three-point basket at the 3:51 mark of the period, cut App State’s lead back to under 20 points, with the scoring sitting at 53-36 after Morrison’s basket.

 

But App State would maintain its lead through the remainder of the period and take a 61-44 lead into the final quarter.

App State pushed its lead to back over 20 points, taking a game-high 26-point lead at 5:56 mark of the fourth quarter. Louisiana would not stop playing though, and junior Caroline Rivera showed up down the stretch, scoring six points over the final three minutes of the quarter and when the final whistle blew Louisiana had put a dent into the App State lead.

 

Louisiana’s late run would be done-in by the clock, and the Ragin’ Cajuns would not get any closer then 12 points over the final three minutes, and when the final whistle blew App State came away with a 83-69 victory.

 

GAME NOTES: Rivera finished with a career-high in points (six) and assists (three) … For the second straight game Louisiana had at least 10 steals, with Louisiana grabbing 12 steals … It is the first time this season that Louisiana has had back-to-back games with at least 10 steals … For the fifth time in the past six games Louisiana finished with at least 10 assists finishing with 14 assists in the game against App State … Freshman guard Brandi Williams finished with six points and in the process tied the late great Kim Perrot for most points scored by a freshman at Louisiana as Williams now sits at 354 points, and her next basket will set the new mark.

 

UP NEXT FOR THE CAJUNS: Louisiana wraps up the regular season with a pair of home games starting with Little Rock on Thursday, March 7, before finishing the 2018-19 regular season with the Alumni Reunion Game against Arkansas State on Saturday, March 9.

 

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.