LAFAYETTE, La. - This season's theme for the Lamar University women's basketball team is two words: never fold. On two different occasions did the Cardinals demonstrate their never say die mentality against the University of Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. First, they overcame a 13-point halftime deficit in one quarter. Then, they held on to a thrilling 63-60 win to snap their two-game skid.
Only five Cardinals found the basket tonight led by the was three-headed monster of Akasha Davis (22 points), Sabria Dean (17 points), and R'Mani Taylor (12 points), who combined for 51 points between them. Davis made all but two of her nine field goal attempts and also notched her 20th career double-double with 10 boards. Dean was a perfect five-of-five from the free throw line while Taylor added 10 points in the second half. Anaya Bernard connected on four field goals, including one three while Jacei Denley added the other three-points.
LU finished the night shooting 43.4% from the field and made 71.4% from the free throw line. The Cardinals succeeded more in capitalizing off turnovers with 20 points to UL's 14 and controlled the paint with a 36-30 margin.
The Cardinals fell behind early in the first quarter 9-0 before Davis converted a free throw to get LU on the board. Dean then netted six straight points putting the Cardinals within 12-7. A late UL run ended the first quarter with the Ragin' Cajuns up 17-8 as the Cardinals shot 18.2% from the field.
For the second quarter, Davis and Dean would combine for 10 of LU's 12 points. But while they were able to make 40.0% from the field, they spent most of the quarter in a double-figure hole as UL would convert seven-of-nine from the field (77.9%). The only other Cardinal who scored in the quarter was R'Mani Taylor, as Big Red fell behind 33-20 at the half.
Whatever locker room adjustments made by the Cardinals at halftime worked out very well in the third quarter as they outscored the Ragin Cajuns 22-9 to tie the score at 42. While Davis and Dean combined for 13 points, Taylor would begin to heat up with five points. The Cardinals traded buckets early with UL to trail 37-24 before a 13-0 run tied the score. Despite conceding four late points, the Cardinals secured their first lead of the game with 41 seconds to go.
Tied at 42 to open the final 10 minutes, LU secured the lead for good by going on a 9-0 run including a Taylor three-point play. A three-pointer by Bernard extended LU's lead to 57-47 with 4:13 to go. But that's when UL suddenly closed the gap to 59-56 with under two to go. The lead stayed at three until the Ragin' Cajuns scored a two-pointer while drawing a foul. But, they missed the free throw and Dean would convert two free throws to bring back the 63-60 lead. In the end, the Cardinals held on to one last shot attempt by UL and preserved the win.
The Cardinals will conclude their five-game road trip with a drive to Ft. Worth to meet up with TCU. The contest will be on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
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