Women’s Basketball: Cajun women handle SUNO – photo gallery included

Eric Narcisse, The Advertiser, November 29, 2012

The UL Ragin’ Cajuns women’s basketball team was eager to return to the court on Wednesday, as they hoped to bounce back from their conference opening loss against Middle Tennessee State last week.

Bouncing back is exactly what the Cajuns did as they excelled in just about every aspect of the game en route to defeating Southern University-New Orleans 71-49 to get back to .500 at 3-3 on the year.

"We tried to work on some things," Cajuns head coach Garry Brodhead said. "In the beginning we were pressing pretty good, but in the second half I didn’t feel like we were as effective with it. We began to give up some easy baskets because we weren’t getting back. We always play hard, but we still have a lot of room for improvement."

Although they missed a lot of shots evident by their 34.4 field goal percentage, the Ragin’ Cajuns shot 50 percent (5-of-10) from behind the 3-point line, 75 percent (24-of-32) from the free throw line, forced 29 turnovers and out-rebounded SUNO 42-35.

"We play so hard that we’re always going to rebound," Brodhead said. "We’re aggressive to the basketball, but I still feel like we turned the ball over too much in the first and we took too many quick shots."

The Cajuns were led offensively by freshman guards Sylvana Okde, who scored a game-high 20 points and recorded four steals and Kia Wilridge, who finished with 15 points, five rebounds, six assists and three assists.

But what may have captured the coaching staff attention the most was the performances by freshman post-player Jasmine Mills and sophomore guard Robbie Brown. Mills finished the game with a double-double as she recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Brown contributed with 10 points, five steals, grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists.

"We have always had confidence in Jasmine, but it was just a matter of finishing around the basket," Brodhead said. "I feel like she did a much better job of positioning herself to finish shots around the basket. She did a really good job.

"Robbie plays hard," Brodhead continued. "She did a great job of knocking down her open looks."

Mills, who got the start for the Cajuns, wasn’t surprised by how well she played.

"We all played really well," Mills said. "We did a great job of rebounding and we worked a lot harder. I’m not surprised by the way I played, because I’ve been working really hard in practice and it carried over onto the court (Wednesday)."

Brown credited hard work and her teammates giving her the ball in spots where she could be successful as key to her success.

"I just happen to be at the right place at the right time," Brown said. "My teammates put me in the perfect situations all game. Kia and Sylvana did a great job of giving me the ball and I took open shots."

Brodhead, who has harped on the importance of playing hard and practicing hard every day, proved he wasn’t kidding that anyone who doesn’t comply won’t play as he benched freshman guard KeKe Veal and sophomore post-player Byronesha Santiago for the game.

"If you don’t practice hard, you don’t play," Brodhead said. "They haven’t been practicing hard, but yet I still played them. So that was my fault. Megan Whittaker has been practicing hard, so she got a chance to play more than she has this year. If you don’t practice hard and you don’t do the things that the team needs you to do, then you won’t play."

Brodhead called the benching of Veal and Santiago "disappointing."

"It is, because they have talent," Brodhead said. "They both have tremendous talent. You can build a program a lot faster when your most talented players are working hard."

Follow assistant sports editor Eric Narcisse on Twitter @tdanarcisse.

Athletic Network Footnote:

Click here for the photo gallery of the UL vs. SUNO women’s basketball game.