LAFAYETTE, La. – The University of South Alabama's women's basketball team (7-15, 2-9) fell to Louisiana-Lafayette (13-8, 7-5) 62-38 on Thursday night at the Cajundome.  The Ragin' Cajuns' Jaylyn Gordon scored 19 of her 29 points in the first half as they lead the Jaguars by double-digits for the nearly the entire time after the first quarter.
 
"Jaylyn Gordon's three-pointers were falling, and she was also able to get in the paint for pull-up jumpers," said South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler.  "She just did a great job at being efficient.  She's a tough player to guard.  She's one of the best players in the league, and she had a great game tonight."
 
The two teams traded baskets in the first four minutes of the game, but Louisiana-Lafayette went on a 7-2 run to start separating itself from South Alabama and lead 18-10 at the end of the first quarter.  Simone Fields (six points) and Gordon (10 points) were a combined 7-9 from the field, including Gordon making both three-point attempts.
 
After a Ragin' Cajuns' three to start the second quarter, Chyna Ellis made a layup that was followed by a Genesis Perrymond three-pointer in consecutive possessions that cut the Jags' deficit to six points.  That would the closest the Jags would be for the rest of the game, as the Ragin' Cajuns ripped off a 13-2 run and led 38-22 at halftime.
 
South Alabama limited Louisiana-Lafayette to 11 points in the third quarter, but allowed Gordon to add eight more points, the same amount the Jags had in the quarter.  Ellis hit a jumper just outside the left block in the Jags' first possession of the second half, and Candice Williams added a layup off a steal by Perrymond for four of the first six points scored in the quarter.  The Ragin' Cajuns outscored the Jags 9-4 afterwards to end the quarter.
 
The Jags were unable to score double-digits in the fourth quarter, once again scoring just eight points.
 
"We were getting good opportunities to score," said Fowler.  "I think early on we were forcing things and turning the ball over.  I thought we did a better job in the second half, but we just couldn't make shots."
 
The Jags finished the game shooting 34% (17-50) from the field, 17.6% (3-17) from three and 33.3% from the charity stripe with a season-low one make and three attempts.  South Alabama lost the turnover battle (21-13) that led to a 15-9 edge for Louisiana-Lafayette in points off turnovers.
 
South Alabama had a slight edge on the glass (35-33).  Both teams had 12 offensive rebounds, but Louisiana-Lafayette was able to outscore the Jags 17-8 in second chance points that also led to a 24-18 edge in points in the paint.
 
Ellis and Williams both had a team-high eight points.  Ellis also grabbed five rebounds, had a steal and blocked a game-high four shots.  She now has 61 rejections this season, which puts her tied for fifth place with Adrian Vicker's season total in 1990 for most blocks in a single-season in school history.
 
Kennedi Centers grabbed a game-high and career-high 11 rebounds, tied for the third-most by a Jag this season.  Her nine defensive rebounds are second most by a South Alabama player this season as well.
 
"We've had some good practices lately, but that doesn't guarantee anything," said Fowler.  "We have to put in the work and get some equity from the practices to turn over into game time.  We just have to keep grinding and giving 100% everyday, and our time will come."
 
The Jags close out their road trip in the state of Louisiana with a Saturday game at 2:00 p.m. against Louisiana-Monroe.
 
The 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are scheduled for a week of March Madness in the Big Easy.  New Orleans will once again be home to the two championships that will take place at Lakefront Arena from March 7-12 and ticket books can now be purchased from your our ticket office.  For more information, visit the Sun Belt Conference's championship central websites - Men's Championship – Women's Championship – and be sure to follow the @FunBelt on social media - @SunBelt.
 
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).