Cajun women to test UALR on Saturday
GAMECENTER
Date: Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011
Location: Little Rock, Ark.
Opponent: UALR Trojans (10-5, 4-0 Sun Belt)
Site: The Jack Stephens Center (5,600)
Game Time: 4:30 pm
Live Stats and Video: RaginCajuns.com
Gameday Story Lines
• The Ragin’ Cajuns (9-9, 2-3 Sun Belt) are looking to snap a two-game losing skid when they visit UALR on Saturday afternoon. UL pulled within four in the final minute, but fell 80-70 at Arkansas State on Wednesday.
• Danielle Smith tallied a career-high 16 points against ASU, including three triples in the contest. Mercedes Johnson inched closer to UL’s top-10 scoring list with 15 points. Johnson is just three points away from entering the top-10.
• Leading the way for UL is Johnson with 14.7 points per game and a 6.3 rebounds. Jasmine Barnes continues to average double figures with 10.0 ppg. She leads UL with a 57.8 field goal percentage (26x45).
• Danielle Smith tallied a career-high 16 points against ASU, including three triples in the contest. Mercedes Johnson inched closer to UL’s top-10 scoring list with 15 points. Johnson is just three points away from entering the top-10.
• Leading the way for UL is Johnson with 14.7 points per game and a 6.3 rebounds. Jasmine Barnes continues to average double figures with 10.0 ppg. She leads UL with a 57.8 field goal percentage (26x45).
All-Time Series with UALR: The Trojans lead the series, 8-7
Last Meeting: UALR 56, UL 49 • Lafayette, La. • Earl K. Long Gym • 2/6/2010
• UALR (10-5, 4-0 Sun Belt) and UL are meeting for the 15th time. The Trojans have won the last six contests, including a 56-49 win at E.K. Long Gym on Feb. 6, 2010.
• UL has not won a Sun Belt Conference game in the state of Arkansas since defeating Arkansas State, 74-71, at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro on Feb. 17, 2000.
• Saturday’s meeting is the first of two scheduled this season. UALR comes to Earl K. Long Gym on Saturday, Feb. 5.
• UL has not won a game over UALR since downing the Trojans, 65-61, on Dec. 28, 2006.
Last Meeting: UALR 56, UL 49 • Lafayette, La. • Earl K. Long Gym • 2/6/2010
• UALR (10-5, 4-0 Sun Belt) and UL are meeting for the 15th time. The Trojans have won the last six contests, including a 56-49 win at E.K. Long Gym on Feb. 6, 2010.
• UL has not won a Sun Belt Conference game in the state of Arkansas since defeating Arkansas State, 74-71, at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro on Feb. 17, 2000.
• Saturday’s meeting is the first of two scheduled this season. UALR comes to Earl K. Long Gym on Saturday, Feb. 5.
• UL has not won a game over UALR since downing the Trojans, 65-61, on Dec. 28, 2006.
Scouting the Trojans
• UALR (10-5, 4-0 Sun Belt) has reeled off seven consecutive wins after starting the season with a 3-5 record.
• The Trojans picked up a 67-61 win over La.-Monroe on Wednesday to improve to an unblemished 4-0 start in Sun Belt play. Senior forward Chasity Reed led the way with a game-high 34 points.
• Reed, the preseason SBC player of the year, is averaging 20.5 points per game with 5.8 rebounds each contest.
• Janette Marriex has proven to be a threat from the perimeter with 25 made triples 15 games. Marriex is averaging 7.4 ppg with 3.1 rpg.
• UALR’s scoring average is 57.9 points per game in 15 contests played this season. The Trojans are shooting 42 percent (340x803), while holding opponents to 36 percent (292x798). UALR opponents are averaging 53.7 points per contest.
Notes and Trends
• UALR (10-5, 4-0 Sun Belt) has reeled off seven consecutive wins after starting the season with a 3-5 record.
• The Trojans picked up a 67-61 win over La.-Monroe on Wednesday to improve to an unblemished 4-0 start in Sun Belt play. Senior forward Chasity Reed led the way with a game-high 34 points.
• Reed, the preseason SBC player of the year, is averaging 20.5 points per game with 5.8 rebounds each contest.
• Janette Marriex has proven to be a threat from the perimeter with 25 made triples 15 games. Marriex is averaging 7.4 ppg with 3.1 rpg.
• UALR’s scoring average is 57.9 points per game in 15 contests played this season. The Trojans are shooting 42 percent (340x803), while holding opponents to 36 percent (292x798). UALR opponents are averaging 53.7 points per contest.
Notes and Trends
WHERE THEY RANK
• Louisiana ranks second in the Sun Belt and 107th nationally in scoring offense, averaging 67.7 points per game in 18 contests this year. The squad is fourth in the league and 74th in the nation in field goal percentage at 42.0 (456x1086).
• UL is second in the Sun Belt in turnover margin with a +3.22 mark. UL is only committing 17.8 turnovers per contest, while opponents are turning the ball over 21.1 times in 18 contests this season.
• Mercedes Johnson is sixth in the Sun Belt, averaging 14.7 points per game.
• Senior Jasmine Barnes ranks fourth in the league in field goal percentage, connecting on 54.7 percent of her shots (76x139).
• Kemi Rotibi is third in the SBC with 23 total blocks for an average of 1.3 blocks per game.
• Louisiana ranks second in the Sun Belt and 107th nationally in scoring offense, averaging 67.7 points per game in 18 contests this year. The squad is fourth in the league and 74th in the nation in field goal percentage at 42.0 (456x1086).
• UL is second in the Sun Belt in turnover margin with a +3.22 mark. UL is only committing 17.8 turnovers per contest, while opponents are turning the ball over 21.1 times in 18 contests this season.
• Mercedes Johnson is sixth in the Sun Belt, averaging 14.7 points per game.
• Senior Jasmine Barnes ranks fourth in the league in field goal percentage, connecting on 54.7 percent of her shots (76x139).
• Kemi Rotibi is third in the SBC with 23 total blocks for an average of 1.3 blocks per game.
QUICK HITTERS
• UL’s nine wins ties Errol Rogers’ mark for the most wins during his tenure as coach. Another victory would give UL the most wins since the 2006-07 season.
• This season, the Cajuns have connected on 42.0 percent (456x1086) of their shots from the floor compared to 37.3 percent (399x1071) at this point a year ago. Through 18 games, UL is 9-9 (2-3 Sun Belt) this season, compared to 6-12 (1-5 Sun Belt) a year ago.
• The Cajuns are averaging 21.1 forced turnovers per game this season. Louisiana has forced 20-plus turnovers in nine contests this season.
• Nicole Morris has been essential to UL’s offense by dishing out a team-leading 39 assists in 18 games this year. Morris is averaging 2.2 assists per game.
• Danyell Oliver leads UL with 16 made three-pointers this season while averaging 7.7 points per game. Oliver also leads the Cajuns from the charity stripe, making 83.3 percent (30x36) from the line.
• UL’s nine wins ties Errol Rogers’ mark for the most wins during his tenure as coach. Another victory would give UL the most wins since the 2006-07 season.
• This season, the Cajuns have connected on 42.0 percent (456x1086) of their shots from the floor compared to 37.3 percent (399x1071) at this point a year ago. Through 18 games, UL is 9-9 (2-3 Sun Belt) this season, compared to 6-12 (1-5 Sun Belt) a year ago.
• The Cajuns are averaging 21.1 forced turnovers per game this season. Louisiana has forced 20-plus turnovers in nine contests this season.
• Nicole Morris has been essential to UL’s offense by dishing out a team-leading 39 assists in 18 games this year. Morris is averaging 2.2 assists per game.
• Danyell Oliver leads UL with 16 made three-pointers this season while averaging 7.7 points per game. Oliver also leads the Cajuns from the charity stripe, making 83.3 percent (30x36) from the line.
JOHNSON CLIMBING UP THE LADDER
• Mercedes Johnson’s 15 point performance at Arkansas State moved her just two points away from entering the top-10 list at UL. Johnson currently has 1,057 points and needs just two to tie Charlotte Green’s 1,059 points total set in 2003.
• Johnson has 253 career free throw makes, passing Mary Douglas’ (1982-84) mark of 233 to move into fifth all-time. Johnson just needs two more to tie for third place with Anna Petrakova (2001-05) and Lisa Merritt (1980-84).
• The junior is averaging a team-high 14.7 points per game, pulling in 6.3 rebounds.
• Johnson has tallied double-digits in 15 of 18 contests played this season.
• Mercedes Johnson’s 15 point performance at Arkansas State moved her just two points away from entering the top-10 list at UL. Johnson currently has 1,057 points and needs just two to tie Charlotte Green’s 1,059 points total set in 2003.
• Johnson has 253 career free throw makes, passing Mary Douglas’ (1982-84) mark of 233 to move into fifth all-time. Johnson just needs two more to tie for third place with Anna Petrakova (2001-05) and Lisa Merritt (1980-84).
• The junior is averaging a team-high 14.7 points per game, pulling in 6.3 rebounds.
• Johnson has tallied double-digits in 15 of 18 contests played this season.
BARNES NEARING TOP-10 LISTS
• Jasmine Barnes is averaging 10.0 points per game and ranks second on the team with 81 total rebounds for 4.5 rebounds per game through 18 contests.
• She is shooting a team-high 54.7 percent from the floor (76x139).
• The senior has 341 career made field goals and is just 63 away from reaching UL’s top-10 list. She currently ranks sixth all-time in Cajuns history with a 45.3 field goal percentage (341x753).
• Barnes is three games away from reaching the top-10 for games played and just two contests away from reaching the top-10 for games started.
• Jasmine Barnes is averaging 10.0 points per game and ranks second on the team with 81 total rebounds for 4.5 rebounds per game through 18 contests.
• She is shooting a team-high 54.7 percent from the floor (76x139).
• The senior has 341 career made field goals and is just 63 away from reaching UL’s top-10 list. She currently ranks sixth all-time in Cajuns history with a 45.3 field goal percentage (341x753).
• Barnes is three games away from reaching the top-10 for games played and just two contests away from reaching the top-10 for games started.
SIZZLING SMITH
• Danielle Smith notched a season-high 16 points at Arkansas State with three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Smith hit three triples in the contest, helping the Cajuns pull within four against the Red Wolves.
• Smith, a native of Moreno Valley, Calif., is averaging 5.1 points per game, ranking second on the team with 10 three-pointers.
• Danielle Smith notched a season-high 16 points at Arkansas State with three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Smith hit three triples in the contest, helping the Cajuns pull within four against the Red Wolves.
• Smith, a native of Moreno Valley, Calif., is averaging 5.1 points per game, ranking second on the team with 10 three-pointers.
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