Women’s Basketball: Cajuns Fall to Little Rock in Conference Opener + Reunion Information

Reunion Information Below Game Report

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – In a physical affair, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns women’s basketball team dropped their Sun Belt Conference opener, 78-43 to the Little Rock Trojans here at the Jack Stephens Center.

The loss drops the Cajuns record to 5-8 (0-1 SBC), while the win snaps a four-game losing streak for the Trojans and it improves their record to 4-8 (1-0 SBC).

Sophomore Malachi-Seraphin Williams finished with 11 points to lead the Cajuns in scoring, while senior Simone Fields finished with nine points and five rebounds. Sophomore Jasmine Thomas added eight points while going 3 for 5 from the field (2-3 from three-point range).

HOW IT HAPPENED (First Quarter): Little Rock came out and jumped on the Cajuns early, starting the game with a 5-0 run. A steal and basket from freshman Skyler Goodwin put the score at 5-4 just two minutes into the game.

Senior Simone Fields put in two baskets to start a back and forth with the Trojans but her basket at 6:29, putting the score at 9-8 Little Rock, would be the last field goal the Cajuns would get in the quarter, and it would be the closest the Cajuns would get to the Trojans for the remainder of the game.

The Trojans then pulled away through the quarter, shooting 63 percent when the quarter was finished, and the last points for the Cajuns in the quarter came at the 2:29 mark with a free throw from sophomore Brittney Myles. When the quarter finished, the Cajuns sat behind the Trojans by 12 points with the score sitting at 21-9.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Second Quarter): The Trojans came out on an 8-2 run to start the second quarter, the run was ended by a three-point basket from Thomas. But the Trojans continued to add to their lead as they went on another run, this time it was a quick 6-3 run, to put the score at 36-17.

The one basket in the Trojans 6-3 run, was a three-point basket from senior Nekia Jones, and she would add another three-point basket in the quarter, at the 3:17 mark of the quarter that would be the last points that Louisiana would score in the quarter. As the half ended, Little Rock had a 23-point lead on the Cajuns with the score sitting at 40-17.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Third Quarter): Little Rock kept adding to their lead as the second half begun, and it wasn’t until a layup from Fields at the seven-minute mark did the Cajuns get their first basket of the quarter.

Fields then added another basket a minute later (6:10), and that moved her into sole possession of 10th place on the Cajuns all-time scoring list, passing Yolanda Jones.

Louisiana cut to lead to 25 points on a layup from Jones. But Little Rock again pushed their lead, and a three-point basket at the buzzer from Thomas kept the Trojans from finishing the quarter with a 30-point lead, with the score sitting at 62-34.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Fourth Quarter): Louisiana cut the lead to 29 points on a Jones free throw, but they couldn’t cut into the Trojans lead any more then that through the quarter. Little Rock pushed it back over 30 points with a 7-0 run that was ended by a three-point basket from Seraphin-Williams, but Little Rock kept the pressure on for the remainder of the game. When the final whistle blew, the Trojans had a 35-point lead to win the game with a final score of 78-43.

NOTEWORTHY: Fields moved into 10th place on the Cajuns all-time scoring list with a basket at the 6:10 mark in the third quarter and she now has 1,093 career points after passing Yolanda Jones.

UP NEXT FOR THE CAJUNS: Louisiana finishes off the Arkansas swing on Sunday, Dec. 31 when they visit the Arkansas State Red Wolves with that game scheduled to start at 1 p.m. The game will be streamed via the Arkansas State website, along with be broadcasted on ESPN 1420 with Jay Walker handling the play-by-play duties.

FOLLOWING THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS: Follow the Cajuns on twitter @RaginCajunsWBB for links to game recaps, updates during the games and links for ways to follow the Cajuns as they navigate their conference schedule.

Women’s Basketball Reunion Set For January 27th

Dear Ragin’ Cajuns!

On behalf of the Ragin’ Cajuns Athletic Department, Bryan Maggard-Director of Athletics, and Coach Gary Brodhead, we would like to invited you and your family to participate in of our 2018 Women’s Basketball Reunion.

On Saturday, January 27^th our team will be playing Troy and we would love to host you and your family for the game and present you and your teammates at half time.

This invitation includes former coaches, athletic trainers, managers, etc. – please help spread the word about this event and please RSVP whether or not you plan to attend.

Schedule of Events:

*Time TBD* Tour the new Student-Athlete Performance Center

*Time TBD* Shoot around practice and meet the team.

The Men’s Team will play prior to the women and your ticket will give you access to both games.

4:00 pm – Game vs. Troy

*Half Time presentation on court.

*Post-game reception at the Cajun Dome.

Please RSVP by emailing mminton@louisiana.edu with the following information: (up to 4 tickets provided)

Name:

Years Played:

Mailing Address:

Ticket(s) Request:

**Please share with former teammates as the information that the University of Louisiana at Lafayette contains is not always accurate or most up to date.

We look forward to hosting you and your family!

Geaux Cajuns!