Women’s Basketball: Veal says Cajuns’ win dedicated to Perrot

Bobby Ardoin, Special to the Daily World, The Advertiser, January 18, 2015

 

 

LAFAYETTE – KeKe Veal never saw Kim Perrot play basketball, but none of that mattered Saturday.

Legends, Veal acknowledged, tend to continually speak for themselves.

Veal has heard enough about Perrot — especially this past weekend — to understand what the former Cajuns’ standout means to UL women’s basketball.

On a day when it was all about Perrot, Veal said the Cajuns were inspired by the legacy that exists for the former UL point guard, whose retired jersey now hangs from the Cajundome ceiling.

“We dedicated this game to (Perrot),” Veal, an Opelousas native, said following the Cajuns’ 65-58 victory over South Alabama.

“Her coach (former UL women’s basketball coach Ross Cook) spoke to us on Friday about Kim and it really inspired us. We went out (against USA) and we played the game for her.

“She was such a good player and we enjoyed (Cook’s stories) about her playing days (at UL), when (Perrot) would go out and play against the boys,” said Veal.

Perrot’s (then USL) jersey had been retired by the university once before (in 1998) during ceremonies at the Earl K. Long Gymnasium, where the Cajuns’ women’s teams played all their basketball games in those days.

UL now schedules all the women’s games for the Cajundome and school officials felt the jersey should now look down upon the basketball court from that venue.

An emotional ceremony that featured Perrot’s family members was held at halftime of the USA game.

Current Cajuns’ women’s coach Gary Brodhead said “he cheated” and watched with his players, most of the Perrot proceedings from near the lockerroom.

Veal said she’s lately learned a lot about Perrot, who died from lung cancer in 1999.

“They say she was a really talented guard, who was good-hearted. That was why we came to the game (on Saturday) ready to show up and stand out for (Perrot),” said Veal.

Veal, who like Perrot, plays the point and at times the shooting guard, says the Cajuns are currently undergoing their own internal adversities, since Brodhead has been unable to attend UL’s away games due to what he has said is a family illness.

The situation has coincided with the Cajuns’ current three-game conference winning streak and has served as a unifying factor, Veal said.

“Miss Andrea (Brodhead’s wife) is like a second mother for me and this situation has affected us all. I know we are all going to get through it, because (Andrea Brodhead) is with us.

“All we know is we have to play together as a team, pull together and stay strong for the team,” said Veal.

Veal, who scored 15 against USA, entered the game at No. 16 in Sun Belt Conference scoring (11.9 points per game).

She also ranked seventh in assists (3.2) and steals (2.0).

The Cajuns’ women (11-4, 3-3) host UL-Monroe (6-9, 1-5) Monday beginning at 5 p.m.