Women’s Basketball: Louisiana Downed By Rice, 83-51

Three Ragin’ Cajuns score in double figures as team falls to Owls on the road

HOUSTON – Junior Brandi Williams’ second-straight 16-point outing was not enough to help Louisiana keep up with a hot-shooting Rice team, which used a big first quarter to propel the Owls to an 83-51 victory over the Ragin’ Cajuns on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Williams was one of three Ragin’ Cajuns (1-3, 0-0 Sun Belt) who scored in double figures during the game, joined by Jomyra Mathis and Makayia Hallmon who added 10 points apiece.
 
Rice (4-0, 0-0 Conference USA) created the majority of its offense down low, outscoring Louisiana 42-12 in the paint, and on the break, holding a 21-4 advantage in fast-break points. The Owls were led by Nancy Mulkey, who scored 18 points.
 
A 3-pointer from Kimberly Burton, her only points of the contest, and Williams kept Louisiana within one possession early in the game, but a 13-0 run over the next 3:32 created an insurmountable lead after the first quarter.
 
Leading 42-25 at halftime, Rice continued to exert itself in the second half with a 14-0 run over the opening 4:28 of the third quarter to go ahead 56-25.
 
Hallmon provided a spark in the fourth quarter with eight of her 10 points coming in the final period, but it was not enough to get back into the game as the Owls came away with the 83-51 victory.
 
Louisiana returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 20, when it heads north to Ruston to face in-state foe Louisiana Tech. Tipoff from the Thomas Assembly Center is slated for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on Cox Sports Television.