Women’s Basketball: Cajuns freshman Brandi Williams on pace for record-setting season

Steve Peloquin, Special to the Advertiser, Feb. 23, 2019

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The Ragin’ Cajuns have a number of talented young players, and one of those youngsters is having one of the best freshman seasons in school history.

Guard Brandi Williams is currently on pace to eclipse the freshman numbers of a local legend, and also has the opportunity to eclipse a school record.

Williams scored 22 points on Saturday, as UL fell to the Texas State Bobcats, 71-65, in Sun Belt Conference action at the Cajundome.

With the victory, Texas State improved to 13-14 overall, and 8-7 in league play, while UL dropped to 7-18, 5-9.

"We had some lapses on defense, on the help-side, and some breakdowns on offense," said UL head coach Gary Brodhead. "We played pretty well for three quarters, but we have to figure out a way to play consistent for four."

A prep standout at Barbe prior to signing with UL, Williams now has 336 points this season.

How good is that?

Well, the late, great Kim Perrot, the school’s all-time scoring leader, with 2,157 points, scored 354 points her freshman year, a mark Williams is now only 18 points shy of.

Williams won’t reach the school record by a freshman of 550 points, set by Aronji Johnson during the 1984-85 campaign, but now with four regular season games remaining, including the postseason, she does have a realistic shot at becoming only the second freshman in school history to surpass 400 points in her rookie campaign.

"She’s a very coachable kid," Brodhead said of Williams. "She works very hard, and she comes to play every day. She’s gotten better as the year has progressed."

But wait; there’s more.

A native of Lake Charles, Williams also has a shot at breaking the school record for free throw percentage in a single season.

Through 24 games this season, Williams is shooting .875 percent at the free throw line, which would eclipse the previous school record of  .872 percent, set by Onna Charles, during the 2006-07 season.

The 5-foot-6 Williams has converted on 112-of-128 attempts at the charity stripe this season.

"She’s (Williams) been incredibly consistent as a freshman," said Brodhead. "Most freshmen struggle with consistency, but she challenges herself to excel, and she’s answered that challenge almost every game."

The Cajuns, who entered the afternoon in eighth place in league play, next travel to face Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State, on Thursday and Saturday, respectively, with a possible first-round home game on the line.

The SBC schools that finish seventh and eighth will host opening-round games in the postseason tournament. 

"Our next game is always our biggest game," said Brodhead. "I’m disappointed we didn’t get this one, but there’s no doubt there’s a lot on the line with out next couple of games."