LAFAYETTE, La. ? The University of South Alabama women’s basketball team used an outstanding performance first half to pick up its 14th win of the season with a 66-52 Sun Belt Conference victory over Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday evening at the Cajundome.
“We got off to a really good start tonight and I really couldn’t find much negative about the first half,” South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said. “Unfortunately lately in the second half, we half shown a tendency to relax and we have to fix that. You have to credit Louisiana-Lafayette, because they fought as hard as they could and took advantage when we lost concentration with the lead. The good news is, once (ULL) made it a little dangerous for us, we were able to respond.”
USA (14-6, 5-4 SBC) will continue on the road when it travels to Denver on Wednesday to take on the Lady Pioneers. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. (Central) at Magness Arena. The Ragin’ Cajuns fall to 3-16 overall and 0-8 in the Sun Belt with the loss.
Shakira Nettles was one of four Lady Jags to finish in double figures with a game-high 18 points. Ra’Shawna Sippio posted her fourth-straight double-double of the season with a 13 point, 12 rebound effort. Shaniece Brunner and Jessica Starling also chipped in with 11 points apiece.
Krystal Motley led the Cajuns with 11 points, while Alexis Green added 10.
South Alabama came out of the gates on fire and got off to a quick start both at the offensive and defensive ends of the court. The Lady Jags were able to knock down eight of their first 10 shots from the floor, while limiting the Ragin’ Cajuns to just 1-of-9 shooting. During that stretch USA did a good job of spreading things around as five players scored. Nettles later gave the Jaguar women a 26-7 advantage at the 10:22 mark when the junior drove the lane for a layup and was fouled.
ULL narrowed the deficit to 28-15 after Jasmine Barnes hit one of her two attempts at the charity stripe with seven minutes, 21 seconds to go in the half, but Nettles again had the answer draining a trey on USA’s next trip down the floor, three of her 14 first half points.
Lauren Walker later gave the Lady Jags their largest lead of the period at 19 (38-19) when the freshman connected on one of South Alabama’s seven first half three-pointers, this one coming with just over two minutes before the half. Brunner sent USA into the locker room with 41-23 lead on another Jaguar trey.
For the half, South Alabama was a blistering 17 for 30 from the floor ? 56.7 percent ? and connected on seven of its 15 attempts from long range. The 56.7 field goal percentage in the first stanza was a season-high for the Jaguar women. The USA defense also held the Ragin’ Cajuns to just 8-of-27 shooting in the first 20 minutes of play.
Riding the hot shooting from the first period, Starling and Nettles connected on back-to-back baskets to open the second half and give the Lady Jags their largest lead of the game less than two minutes into the half. Starling drained a trey on USA’s second possession of the half and Nettles then laid the ball off the glass on an offensive put back at the 18:05 mark to give the Jags a 46-23 advantage.
With South Alabama still leading 51-32 with 11 minutes, 24 seconds left on the clock, the Ragin’ Cajuns began to chip away at the deficit. Motley pulled ULL to within 10 and capped off an 11-2 run for the Cajuns when the freshman sank a pair of free throws with less than seven minutes remaining.
Brunner ended the ULL run with her second three-pointer of the contest, this one coming from the top of the key on South Alabama’s next trip down court. After USA pushed its advantage back out to 16 (61-46) on a pair of Sippio free throws at the 2:32 mark, Motley was able to get the Ragin’ Cajuns as close as 11 on two occasions in the final minutes, but the Jaguar women made the necessary plays to hold on for the 14-point victory.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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